Self-proclaimed prophet Elma Mutavhatsindi guilty of rape

LIMPOPO – The Thohoyandou High Court last Wednesday found the 34-year-old self-proclaimed prophet and pastor, Mukovhe Vincent Makhavhu better known on his social media pages as ‘Elma Mutavhatsindi’ from Duthuni village, guilty of four counts of rape, one of sexual assault and another for robbery with aggravated circumstances.

Mutasvhatsindi lured women through social media platforms with the promise of work, healing and solving marital problems, with many of the young women who sought out his services ending up being raped and robbed of their belongings, some even at gunpoint.

He is also accused of duping unsuspecting women on social media under the pretence of being a prophet, before raping and robbing them of their belongings.

He managed to attract over 100 000 followers on his social media page.

The scene where many of his crimes were committed, was at Mutshindudi River, where he would perform cleansing ceremonies just to subsequently rape women.

Police were alerted by community members who laid charges of rape against the self-proclaimed prophet.

He was arrested in Gauteng in 2021 on a separate charge and was brought back to Thohoyandou, where more charges were added.

Reading the verdict, judge Thogomelani Tshidada said the method Mutasvhatsindi used to lure young women promising to pray and cleanse them in the river was described without fail by all the complainants, and that they all positively identified him.

Tshidada said that one of the victims, who followed the social media trail of a prophet who offered free prayer sessions to people looking for jobs and marital problems, thought she would be helped, but was instead raped and robbed.

The case was postponed to June 3 for the pre-sentencing report.