A pastor was convicted and sentenced to two life terms by the Ermelo Regional Court yesterday for the rape of a 15-year-old church member. The 51-year-old Zion Christian Church (ZCC) pastor, who cannot be named to protect the minor victim, raped the minor on two separate occasions. The accused and the victim's family were residing in the same area and attending the same church.

BRIBING THE VICTIM'S BROTHER

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) the rapes happened between July and September 2020. NPA regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said in one incident, the accused came to the victim's house and found the victim with his brother. He sent the victim's brother to the nearby shop to buy him tea. "When the brother returned, he found the victim and the accused naked in his mother's bedroom. The pastor gave the victim's brother R50 and asked him not to report the matter to anyone," Nyuswa said. In a second incident, the victim was on her way to meet up with her sister when the accused called her to his house. When she was inside the house, the accused locked the door, threw her on the bed and raped her. 

PLEADED NOT GUILTY

The matter was reported, and the victim was taken to Ermelo Thuthuzela Care Centre for medical examination, counselling and psychosocial support. In court, the accused pleaded not guilty and denied the allegation levelled against him. State Prosecutor Rothman Chanѐ led the testimony of the victim and the victim's brother also testified what he observed on the day. Their evidence was corroborated by the victim's mother as well as the medical report. 

THE FAMILY TRUSTED THE RAPIST

In aggravation of sentence, Rothman handed in a victim impact statement compiled by the victim's mother and facilitated by Court Preparation Officer Faith Masango. "In her statement, Masango stated that she felt very angry and disappointed because the family trusted the accused, he was their spiritual father, leader, and a father figure to children in the church who was supposed to protect children and not use their vulnerability to his advantage," Nyuswa added. Magistrate Eben Jonker found no compelling and substantial reason to deviate from the minimum sentence and imposed life imprisonment on each count. The court also ordered the accused's name to be entered into the National Register for Sexual Offenders and declared unfit to possess a firearm and unsuitable to work with children as part of the sentence. The Director of Public Prosecutions in Mpumalanga Advocate Nkebe Kanyane welcomed the conviction and the sentence imposed on the accused. "We further applaud the good work done by the Ermelo TCC, the Prosecutor, and the investigating officer Sentences of this nature are indicative of our commitment to the fight against gender-based violence," Nkebe said.