Dobsonville church elder charged with raping 12-year-old

The case against a 58-year-old Soweto pastor accused of raping a 12-year-old girl over the Easter weekend has been transferred to the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg for trial.

The man, who cannot be named until he pleads to the sexual charges, made a brief appearance at the Roodepoort magistrate’s court, where the case was postponed.

Magistrate Thelma Simpson told the accused that the director of public prosecutions had decided to move the trial to the high court in Johannesburg.

Simpson said the charges would be two counts of rape, to be read “with the minimum sentences applicable. Since the allegations are that a minor was the victim, the sentence will be life imprisonment if you are convicted,” she said.

The man, who is known in the Dobsonville community as a church elder, came to public attention after an alleged incident during the recent Easter long weekend.

According to reports, he allegedly took a minor from her home to his residence, where she was assaulted.

The allegations sparked widespread public outrage after video footage showing the immediate aftermath circulated on social media.

Police subsequently launched an investigation, with medical evidence forming part of the case.

The man was arrested on April 4 and appeared in the Roodepoort magistrate’s court shortly afterwards.

He abandoned his bail application and has remained in custody while investigators and prosecutors worked to finalise the case.