Local NewsNews

Seshego pastor to be sentenced for rape

James Thobakgale (57) was arrested on 11 February and charged with rape, fraud, assault (GBH), concealment of death, kidnapping, extortion and theft.

UPDATE: Seshego pastor granted bail pending private psychologist report


POLOKWANE – A 57- year-old pastor from Seshego, James Thobakgale, will today be sentenced in the Mankweng Regional Court.

Thobakgale was arrested on two counts of rape that were committed in Polokwane in January 2012, on 11 February, and has been out on bail since then. One of the rape victims was 14 years old at the time.

Read more: Seshego pastor arrested for multiple crimes including rape and concealment of death

He was convicted on both charges and his bail revoked during his appearance in court on Monday, 19 August. Thobakgale will remain in custody until his sentencing and is expected to make his next court appearance while serving jail time.

Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said Thobakgale is also facing several other charges for crimes apparently committed by him in the Seshego policing area, for which he was earlier granted bail.

Read more: UPDATE: Seshego pastor remanded in custody due to medical reasons

“He and five members of his church will again appear in the Seshego Magistrate’s Court on 27 August, on multiple charges. The five are still out on bail,” he said.

raeesak@nmgroup.co.za

For more breaking news follow us on Facebook Twitter Instagram or send us a message on WhatsApp 079 418 4404

At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!

Support local journalism

Add The Citizen as a preferred source to see more from Review in Google News and Top Stories.

Raeesa Sempe

Raeesa Sempe is a Caxton Award-winning Digital Editor with nine years’ experience in the industry. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Media Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand and started her journey as a community journalist for the Polokwane Review in 2015. She then became the online journalist for the Review in 2016 where she excelled in solidifying the Review’s digital footprint through Facebook lives, content creation and marketing campaigns. Raeesa then moved on to become the News Editor of the Bonus Review in 2019 and scooped up the Editorial Employee of the Year award in the same year. She is the current Digital Editor of the Polokwane Review-Observer, a position she takes pride in. Raeesa is married with one child and enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music and baking – when she has the time. “I still believe that if your aim is to change the world, journalism is a more immediate short-term weapon." – Tom Stoppard

Related Articles

Back to top button