A sangoma accused of raping his two minor initiates will remain behind bars, pending the resumption of his trial. The state alleges that a boy aged 12 and a girl aged 14, were raped by Isaac Motaung between 2020 and 2021. He also forced them to engage in sexual intercourse with each other.

The underage initiates were allegedly still undergoing their training at the accused's home when he took advantage of them. The National Prosecuting Authority's Phindi Mjonondwane said Motaung is facing two counts of rape, compelled rape, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. "Both complainants later found out that Motaung was HIV positive when he raped them, hence the charges of attempted murder," she said.

Motaung was arrested after one of the two complainants laid charges at Alexandra Police Station in June 2021 and has been in custody since. He appeared before the Alexandra Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and the case was postponed to 30 November 2023, for the trial to resume.