Rights body warns abusers

Civil rights movement #NotInMyname yesterday warned self-proclaimed “men of God” who sexually abuse their fervent followers that strong consequences will soon follow.

“The issue of rape and the culture of abuse in South Africa, it is becoming very evil.

“As you are seeing that it is now moving over into the schools. We have seen the Valhalla case. It is moving over into churches.

“There is a [church leader] in Pretoria who is well known to us. He is facing some serious issues at the moment but at the right time, we are going to reveal and make sure he gets the necessary spotlight for doing these things to girls,” said #NotInMynameSA’s secretary-general, Themba Masango.

#NotInMyNameSA was picketing outside the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court yesterday, where a teacher was appearing for allegedly sexually assaulting pupils at Valhalla Primary School in Centurion.

The matter was postponed to February 13.

The male teacher faces seven counts of sexual assault.

Earlier this week, #NotInMyNameSA was protesting at the Eastern Cape High Court in Port Elizabeth, where Nigerian Pastor Timothy Omotoso is appearing on several charges, including rape and human trafficking.

The pastor faces 63 main charges and 34 alternative counts, which include human trafficking, rape, sexual assault, racketeering and conspiracy in aiding another person to commit sexual assault.

His two alleged assistants, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa SithoSulani, are accused of recruiting girls from around the country for purposes of sexual exploitation.

The 58-year-old televangelist allegedly trafficked more than 30 girls and women, who were from various branches of his Jesus Dominion International Church to a house in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal.

There, he allegedly sexually exploited them.

Some of Omotoso’s congregants were also in attendance to support him, singing and dancing outside the court in support of the man they affectionately refer to as “daddy”. –ANA

Sexual abuse is a grave problem and it is rife in both schools and churches. We know of a church leader in Pretoria facing some serious issues and we will make sure he gets the spotlight, too. Themba Masango #Not in My NameSA spokesperson