EASTERN CAPE - PASTOR, 60, APPEARS IN COURT FOR THE RAPE OF 4 GIRLS AGED BETWEEN 13 - 17

A 60-year-old Eastern Cape pastor has appeared in the Qumbu Magistrate’s Court for allegedly raping three of his wife’s nieces and an under-aged girl. 

It is alledged that these acts took place over a period of eight years.

The pastor allegedly preyed on the four girls aged between 13 and 17.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson, Luxolo Tyali says the pastor has been granted bail of R5 000.

“He is charged with four counts of rape and three counts of sexually grooming young girls who were congregants in his church. The offences were allegedly committed over a period of time, beginning from 2010 to 2018. The complainants only reported the matter in 2020 and the pastor was arrested after a thorough investigation which was guided by a prosecutor. He was granted R5 000 bail with strict conditions. The case has been postponed to the 6th of October, in order for him to secure a legal representation.”

Meanwhile, the trial of a 25-year-old man from Lehurutshe, near Zeerust in the North West, who is facing several charges of rape, has been postponed to the first week of November by the North West High Court in Mahikeng.

Tumisang Sesinyi of Dinokana Village, allegedly raped mainly students from the nearby Lehurutshe College between 2012 and 2015.

Victims were robbed of their valuable belongings such as cellphones and cash, before being repeatedly raped. Most of them would tell Sesinyi that they are HIV positive with the hope that he would release them, but he insisted that they undress and continued to raped them.

A group of three suspects used to work together at the time, but only Sesinyi was apprehended thus far after he was positively linked to the incidents by DNA.