NELSPRUIT – A 70-year-old pastor of Siyabuswa has been arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old girl.
Information at police disposal revealed that her brother took her to the pastor for prayer as she was not feeling well. It is alleged that he asked her brother to leave and collect her later. According to the police, the suspect instructed the girl to undress so she could get into a “sauna” (isifutho).
In the process, he began to touch the girl and told her that anything that happens within the premises must not be told to anyone. The suspect then forcefully raped her.
The incident was reported to the police and the suspect was nabbed and charged with rape.
On a separate incident, a 55-year-old man from Embalenhle has been arrested for allegedly raping his biological daughter, who is now 32, on several occasions during 1997 and 1999.
It occurred in January 1997 while the victim was 16 at the time, and residing at Bushbuckridge with her granny. It is alleged that the suspect went into his daughter’s room while she was asleep during the night, covered her mouth, forcefully undressed and raped her. He continued to rape her until 1999 where he impregnated the girl.
After they recently had a quarrel her mother discovered that her daughter had been abused and then reported the matter to the police. The suspect was apprehended and escorted to Bushbuckridge where further investigation took place.
The suspects, on both incidents, appeared before the Mdutjane in Siyabuswa and Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Courts respectively on Monday.
The provincial commissioner, Lt Thulani Ntobela has described the two incidents as very unfortunate and immoral as the suspects are supposed to be the guardians of these victims, instead they opted to be something else.
“This behaviour is not welcome in our society and the suspects belong in jail,” said Ntobela.
