ZAMDELA. – A 37-year-old Free State pastor is behind bars after being arrested for raping and impregnating a 17-year-old girl at her home in Zamdela. According to local police, the matter got to their attention when the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences Unit was approached by the social workers regarding the incident which occurred on New Year’s Day this year.

Following the tip-off, police proceeded and reported the matter to the victim’s mother, who later opened a case of rape against the pastor.
Speaking to Ster South, Fezile Dabi District police spokesperson Sergeant Josephine Rani said the incident happened earlier this year.
“The victim alleged that on Monday, 1 January 2024, at about 08:00, she was at home when her pastor arrived.
On his arrival, the pastor had a conversation with another girl and after their conversation, the pastor called the victim to his vehicle and asked her to be his mistress, but she refused and ran into the house,” said Rani.
“The pastor followed her into the victim’s mother’s bedroom and raped her. After the whole ordeal, he then told the victim not to tell anyone, or else he would not employ her mother and her uncle,” she said.
The victim is five months pregnant and the suspect appeared before the Sasolburg Magistrate Court on Thursday, 16 May 2024.