Mom faints as ‘rapist’ pastor comes to court
Residents say accused’s church must leave their village
A preacher charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault walked into the courtroom yesterday with his face hidden in a jacket.
The 32-year-old leader of a church in Burgersdorp outside Tzaneen in Limpopo, was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly attacking young girls inside a prayer room at his church.
His case was postponed to Tuesday for bail application.
According to police reports, the man allegedly tricked the girls – aged 14, 15, 16 and 17 – by inviting them for a prayer meeting at his church.
The incidents allegedly happened on different occasions.
The courtroom was filled to capacity with congregants and local residents. Church members refused to comment.
The accused, who wore blue trousers and a brown jacket, walked into the courtroom slowly as he had covered his face to avoid cameras.
He listened attentively when the charges against him were read out in court. He was remanded in custody.
Drama unfolded outside the courtroom after the mother of one of his alleged victims fainted during an interview with a television news crew.
The woman, whose daughter, 15, was also allegedly raped, was responding to questions when she suddenly screamed and fell to the ground, apparently overcome by emotion.
Other women who were standing nearby rushed to her aid. Earlier, the mother had spoken to Sowetan, saying she felt upset when she saw the pastor sitting in the dock.
“I felt like my heart would stop [beating] when I saw him walking in. I will only get closure if he stays in prison for a long time. He hurt my child,” she said.
On Wednesday, the woman shared a harrowing account, with Sowetan, of how her daughter was violated. She said her daughter was raped after the pastor had told her that she needed prayers because she had the mark of the devil bellow her belly button.
During the prayers in a small room, he allegedly started fondling her and then went on to undress and rape her on a table.
Laura Sithole, who spoke on behalf of the community, said they were shaken by the case.
“We can see that those children have been traumatised. They are not coping,” she said.
Sithole said residents no longer wanted the church in the area.
“We don’t want that church in our village. It must go back to wherever it came from,” Sithole said.
The church, which started operating in the area last year, is situated inside the yard of an RDP house. All the victims were ushers at the church.