A 42-year-old pastor has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a 25-year-old woman, using the guise of spiritual healing to carry out the heinous act.
The incident took place in 2022 at Masodi village, and the pastor was found guilty and sentenced by the Mahwelereng Regional Court. The court ruled on the case after the pastor manipulated the victim, convincing her that she had a spiritual problem that required deliverance and intervention.
According to Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the pastor abused his position of trust, using deceptive methods to convince the woman that she needed spiritual healing. The pastor's manipulation led the victim to believe that her condition required urgent attention through his supposed spiritual practices.
The pastor’s actions escalated when the victim, who had initially brought her ailing mother to him for prayers, became a victim of his abuse. He asked the victim to undress in order to undergo a supposed "spiritual steaming." However, during this session, the pastor raped the woman under the pretense of providing spiritual cleansing.
Following the traumatic experience, the victim bravely reported the assault to the police, where a formal rape complaint was filed. The case was taken up by the Mokopane Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit, with Sergeant Lesetja Langa leading the investigation to ensure justice was served.
After a thorough investigation, the pastor was found guilty of the crime and was subsequently jailed for his actions. The court’s decision serves as a stark reminder of the abuse of power and manipulation that can take place under the guise of spirituality.