Page 3 - 17 October 2025

THE REPORTER 17 OCTOBER 2025 · PAGE 3

them and raped her before 2022 and has been in the pastor committed those
leaving. custody since the NPA offenses to vulnerable
successfully opposed his children who trusted and
On 07 August 2022, while
the stepfather of the 12-year- release on bail. Both victims saw him as a father.
old was at church, he was were taken to Mamelodi Therefore, he asked the
approached by both victims, Thuthuzela Care Centre court to impose a sentence
who asked him about steps (TCC), where they received of life imprisonment.
to take after being abused by medical care, psychological In sentencing, Magistrate
the pastor. Later that day, at and legal assistance. Lynn Pillay agreed with the
home, the man questioned In court, the pastor pleaded state that the pastor showed
the 12-year-old about what not guilty, claiming that the no remorse, he committed
she and the 13-year-old had stepfather of the 12-year-old serious offences that are
Pretoria, Gauteng – The Offenders. He was further victim pulled back, walked told him at church, and while child is falsely accusing him prevalent in the court's
National Prosecuting declared unfit to work with out of the church building, being questioned, the child because he wants to take his jurisdiction. Furthermore,
Authority (NPA) welcomes children and to possess a and joined other church told the father what had position as a pastor in the she said it was the
the life imprisonment firearm. members who also came for happened, and both parents church. However, State responsibility of the courts to
sentence plus five years’ During November 2021, the the choir practice. went to the police station Prosecutor, Andries Ntjana, protect communities from
direct imprisonment handed 13-year-old went to church On 09 April 2022, while the and opened a case against presented compelling such perpetrators by
down by the Pretoria in Mamelodi East for choir 12-year-old was alone at her the pastor. evidence from Dr. Lukhozi removing them from the
Magistrates’ Court to a 41- practice. When she arrived place of residence in On 16 August 2022, the from TCC who examined the communities. Therefore she
year-old pastor from Jesus Is early at the church, she Mamelodi, the pastor arrived stepfather called the mother 13-year-old victim and the found no substantial and
the Answer Ministries found the pastor in the at her home, asked her of the 13-year-old, informing testimony of both victims compelling circumstances
(JITAM) in Mamelodi East. church premises, who then a b o u t h e r p a r e n t s ' her about the incident. On and proved the man’s guilt to deviate from imposing life
This is after he was convicted approached and instructed whereabouts, and requested the same day, the mother of beyond a reasonable doubt. imprisonment.
of rape of a 12-year-old girl her to enter the church to enter the house. After the 13-year-old confronted During sentencing, through Acting Director of Public
and sexual assault of a 13- building with him. After learning that the parents of the child and asked about his legal representative, the Prosecutions in Gauteng,
year-old girl, both of whom entering the building, the the victim were not home, he the truthfulness of what the pastor requested the court Advocate Marika Jansen Van
were congregants at his pastor began to question the e n t e r e d t h e h o u s e , stepfather had told her, the to deviate from imposing the Vu u r e n , c o m m e n d e d
church. The court ordered 13-year-old about serving in complimented the victim, minor then disclosed to her p r e s c r i b e d m i n i m u m Ntjana, stating, “These
that the sentences run church and promised to and promised to marry her mother what had happened. sentence, arguing that he is cases provide justice and
concurrently with life provide for her with anything while touching her breast On the same day, the mother a first-time offender who remove violent criminals
imprisonment and that his she wanted. Thereafter, he and buttocks. Thereafter he reported the matter to the played a positive role in the from our streets.” The NPA
name be entered into the began to touch her chest, pushed the victim on the police. community, has three urges vigilance, prompt
R e g i s t e r o f S e x u a l breast and buttocks. The sofa, undressed both of After investigations by the children to take care of, and reporting of abuse, and
police’s Family Sexual has been in custody since support via TCCs, which
Violence, Child Protection August 2022. However, offer medical, psychological,
and Sexual Offences Unit Ntjana argued that rape is a and legal aid. This case
(FCS), the pastor was serious offence that is violent highlights parents’ critical
arrested at his place of by nature and takes away a role in recognising and
residence on 30 August child’s childhood and that acting on abuse signs.