LIMPOPO – The sentencing of Mukovhe Vincent Makhavhu, a 34-year-old self-proclaimed prophet and pastor known on Facebook as ‘Elma Mutavhatsindi’ was postponed by the High Court in Thohoyandou last Monday.

The delay occurred as Judge Thogomelani Tshidada was unavailable, as he was presiding over matters in the Polokwane High Court. The new sentencing date has been set for June 24, with Makhavhu remaining in custody until then.

He was found guilty on April 24 by the Limpopo High Court in Thohoyandou of four counts of rape, one count of compelled sexual assault, and one count of robbery with aggravated circumstances.

You might also want to read: Life imprisonment for Facebook rapist from Polokwane

The charges stem from his use of social media to lure women under the guise of offering free prayers for job seekers, marital issues, and cleansing rituals. Instead, these women were subjected to rape and robbery, sometimes at gunpoint.

Operating under the alias Elma Mutavhatsindi, Makhavhu attracted over 100 000 followers on Facebook.

He used his platform to invite women to various locations, including the Mutshindudi River, where the assaults are said to have taken place. His activities also stirred unrest in the Vhembe district by accusing individuals of witchcraft and implicating prominent figures in local deaths.

The police were alerted by community members.

Makhavhu was eventually arrested in Gauteng in 2021 on a separate charge and brought back to Thohoyandou, where additional charges were filed against him.