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.
