Everson Luhanga
A pastor in Zwelitsha in the Eastern Cape and his female accomplice have been arrested for raping several vulnerable women and men who had been lured to his church.
The victims, five women and two men aged between 30 and 32, were allegedly convinced by the pastor’s accomplice to come to the church to receive healing, power, and prayer.
The victims, most of whom were impoverished or sick, were persuaded by the promise of attention from a pastor. They followed the accomplice into the pastor’s church, whereupon they were raped by the self-proclaiming man of God.
The two suspects are alleged to have imprisoned at least two of their victims (men), sadistically forcing them to carry out torturous chores around the church.
The pastor told his victims that if they told anyone what he had done to them, God would punish them, according to a source who is close to the case.
Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale confirmed that two people were arrested on Saturday, the 52-year-old pastor and his 37-year-old female accomplice.
“The two were charged with human trafficking and they appeared in the Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape on Monday,” she said.
Colonel Mogale said the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation team received complaints in September last year about sexual abuse of vulnerable people, allegedly trafficked from different areas.
The investigation to thwart and apprehend the suspected syndicate is ongoing.
