Update 6 December: It has come to the attention of the Herald that the pastor convicted of raping a 16-year-old girl was not affilliated with the Maranatha Christian Church at the time of the offence.
According to a representative from the Maranatha Christian Church, pastor Billy Pienaar has not been a part of their organisation for the past six years or so.
Pienaar resigned as a pastor from the Maranatha Christian Church approximately six years ago in order to start his own ministry, which came to be known as the Eagle Wing Ministry.
Pienaar operated his ministry from his smallholding in the Finsbury area and was well-known for allowing homeless families to live on his property in makeshift dwellings and tents.
Pienaar was sentenced to 10 years behind bars after raping a 16-year-old resident, whom he had taken into his home.
5 December: Local Pastor, Hermanus Jakobus Pienaar (50), also known as Billy, from the Maranatha Christian Church in Finsbury, was sentenced to 10-years in prison after being found guilty of rape.
According to the Regional Prosecutor at Randfontein Regional Court, Adele Britz, Pienaar was charged with rape in May 2012 after raping a 16-year old girl whom the accused invited to come and live with his family.
“The victim and her grandmother lived in a tent on Pienaar’s property in Middelvlei, but after the victim and her grandmother had a argument, Pienaar offered that the victim, who was 15-years old at that time, should live with him and his family,” Britz explains.
The victim moved into Pienaar’s home in January 2012.
Pienaar enrolled her at a local high school as a grade 10 pupil and in April 2012 the victim turned 16-years old.
On 21 May 2012, the whole Pienaar family, including the victim went to bed. Shortly after going to bed, the victim heard Pienaar’s bedroom door open.
The victim testified in court that she thought that someone was going to the kitchen or bathroom.
Before long, Pienaar entered the victim’s bedroom.
She asked him to leave, but instead he forced her hands behind her back, covered her mouth with one hand and started removing her nightclothes and underwear with the other.
The victim explained to the court that Pienaar then pinned her down on the bed and started to rape her.
Pienaar’s stepdaughter was awoken by the noise and entered the victim’s room.
“When Pienaar’s stepdaughter entered the room, he jumped off the victim and told his stepdaughter that nothing had happened.
The stepdaughter was horrified at what she saw and rushed to call her mother, who was still asleep.
She came into the room and the victim told her that Pienaar had raped her,” says Britz.
The following day, the victim walked to her own pastor’s house after which her pastor’s wife took her to the hospital for a medical examination.
“During the trial, Pienaar testified that he thought the victim was older and that she provoked him.
“He also stated in court that he never penetrated the victim but just placed his fingers in her private parts,” says Britz.
“The doctor who examined her after the rape, testified that there were signs of forceful penetration and that Pienaar did indeed penetrate the victim.”
Pienaar was found guilty on a count of rape on 6 November and was sentenced to 10-years in prison on 3 December.
He was also found unfit to poses a firearm.
According to Britz, both she and Regional Prosecutor, Given Twala, worked on the case and are pleased with the outcome of the trial.
She thanks Constable Van Tonder for her hard work and dedication to this case.
Billy is not from Maranata Church, he has his own ministry. Just in the same street. His ministry is Eagles Wings.
The man was obviously untrue to the Word of the Lord of which you placed a photo. Why should the Word of God be discredited because of some person’s sin? This is not justified, rather place a photo of the sinner and leave our Lord out of this!
Ek stem saam – los die Kerk uit, dis die man self.
Mr Pretorius is not part of maranata, please can that be corected. He had his own ministry. Eagles wings wich was on the plot where he stayed, its unfair to name our church along with this crime when he did not attend or partake in our church, why not put a photo of the person? Why a bible?
Ek wil net baie graag weet hoe kry die man dit reg om haar hande agter haar rug vas te hou en haar mond toe te druk en dan nog haar kleure op die selfde tyd uit te trek.Hy het seker meer as 2 hande
Please can I make it really fu**#ng clear that the whole Pienaar Family was not involved in this and that the Paper should please get their facts straight as this is affecting the 3 sons whom does not even live near the scene. Please use your words carefully next time
Al wat ek gaan se is pasop die wiel draai, jy weet wie jy is! Die waarheid kom altyd uit……..
The information that we received from the court was that Pienaar was affiliated to the Maranatha Church. We have since received an update from the church and have updated the information in the story. I fail to see how this negatively impacts on the three sons not living near the area, as they are not mentioned anywhere in the story. Our information was received from the court. Please feel free to contact me on 011 693 3671, or via email at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za if you have any further queries or complaints.
Regards
Johan Meyer
Editor
Randfontein/ Westonaria Herald
So that is it? ten years…. he will sit maybe 1 or 2 and then be out to continue with his sickly ways.
matty b you don’t even no the man so maybe get your facts right before you come comment your shit that girl was not a victum she loved it so ja if there is something sick about this its the girl and you who comment thats sick you don’t no the story and johan meyer you think the court know everything but think again. it hurts the 3 sons and some of them lives in randfontein.
Susie I do know him, I know of other young girls he also “uncle Billied” himself to, and how they are today devasted. If the reporter digs a bit, and does research, then the ten years will be nothing………because the case will be re-opened and other mitigating factors taken into account. That girl didn’t love it either, she is devastated and undergoing therapy. so calm down.
Dear Matty. If the shoe fits wear it! If you only knew what we knew! But don’t worrry the truth always comes out! I would just like to add that a story always has 2 sides to it! So for all of you ….. Out there that has been fooled by that Thing! Just remember one thing…she might fool you but she is not fooling me! When you say things like “my skelmpie heti gstraand vi my kom kuier nie” then I don’t see how he was doing what they are saying! But don’t worry I’ll pray to God to let the truth come out and and one day all you miserable people will think before you speak!
listen here matty be that girl fools you, because why? she is the reason of a other married couples divorse only when she was 12 or 13 so if I were you I’ll back off. And girls today aren’t that inisant, they like to get older men’s attention so before you want to stand up for girls like that maybe just think a little. And if I wanted to calm down I would but I don’t won’t, and I’m not gonna listen to you!!!!!!!!!
So n vark se goed moet sommer af gesny word sies man hy is n vark en dan is hy nog n pastoor wa gaan ons land heen as jy nie eers meer n pastoor kan vertou nie die kerk se naam word ook nou deur die modder gesleep sies man hy behoort hom te skaam en hy sal sy straf kry in die tronk hy sal voel hoe daai kind gevoel het
die einde van die dag, was hy ontrou aan sy vrou, wie in die huis was, terwyl als aangegaan het. dis genoeg om ‘n mens te laat braak.