Local pastor who raped girls to ‘deliver them from evil spirits’ sentenced to life in prison
The 57-year-old pastor from Polokwane was sentenced for the rape of two congregants, aged 14 and 16.
LIMPOPO – The Mankweng Regional Court on Tuesday, sentenced 57-year-old Pastor James Thubakgale to two life imprisonment terms for the rape of two minors in 2009.
In both incidents, Thubakgale had told the victims’ parents to bring them to him after a church service in order to receive deliverance or to get a prophecy.
The first victim, a 16-year-old girl, was raped in 2009. “During the trial, the court heard that accused had penetrated her claiming to remove the evil spirit within her,” said Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi,
Regional Spokesperson for the DPP Limpopo in a statement.
The second victim, a 14-year-old girl was raped in his house. “On the day Thubakgale had called the complainant and upon her arrival he told her that God loves her and she has a gift of prophecy but the problem is that she has a snake inside her stomach. He promised her that he will remove it and instructed her to take off her underwear and lie on a bed and go to sleep. He then grabbed her hands and raped her. Thereafter he told her to bath and afterwards threatened her using a gun.”
“Three weeks after the rape he called her again and once again took her inside the house, instructed her to lie on a sofa and he penetrated her. The complainant was raped several times before she stopped attending the church.”
“During the trial Thubakgale pleaded not guilty to both counts and in mitigation of sentence, the defence argued that the court must take into consideration his age and health condition and should give him a lesser sentence or a non- custodial sentence.”
“In aggravation of sentence, advocate Calvin Tjege argued that the submission by the defence does not have substance, since there are no substantial and compelling circumstances that exist. He further asked the court to imposed the prescribed minimum sentence for each count.”
“The court remarked that the accused being the pastor was supposed to protect the flock, and not to abuse or to breach the trust.”
The court sentenced Thubakgale to two life imprisonment terms.
Thubakgale together with five other members of his church, face charges on a pending case in Seshego Magistrate’s Court. The charges are related to rape, fraud, assault GBH, concealment of death, kidnapping, extortion and theft.
The case is set to continue in 2021, Malabi-Dzhangi concluded.
