The case against the 56-year-old Dobsonville church elder accused of raping a 12-year-old child during Easter has been transferred to the High Court in Johannesburg.

The accused appeared briefly in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, August 12, where an indictment was formally served.

It is alleged that the accused sexually assaulted the girl at his home in Dobsonville over the Easter weekend. The case sparked widespread public outrage after a video allegedly linked to the incident, as well as footage depicting its aftermath, circulated rapidly on social media.

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The public outcry intensified as the footage spread online, prompting swift police action and the subsequent arrest of the suspect. He is facing two counts of rape, as well as charges of assault and abduction.

During the court session, Magistrate Thelma Simpson started off by apologising to the accused for the previous postponement, which was linked to a power outage caused by alleged cable theft.

Simpson also explained the context of the indictment to the accused. The court heard that the trial will be held in the Johannesburg Division of the High Court, with Setswana being the language of the proceedings.

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The indictment also outlined details of the new State advocate, the witnesses the State intends to call during the trial, as well as the accused’s transfer to Johannesburg prison, where he will be detained.

The court further heard that the accused will apply for legal aid to represent him during the trial.

The matter has been postponed to August 20, and the accused remains in custody.