Rape accused pastor to remain behind bars
A Limpopo pastor and five senior members of his church accused of rape and fraud will remain in police custody after appearing in the Seshego Magistrates Court in Limpopo on Tuesday.
The case was postponed to February 18 for further investigation.
Limpopo police spokesperson Motlafela Mojapelo says the pastor is facing nine charges, including extortion of millions of rands from pensioners.
Police are also investigating allegations that the deaths of some congregants might have been concealed.
"The 57-year-old pastor will remain also in custody awaiting the determination by the prosecutor in terms of issuing a certificate about the schedules about the cases he is facing. We need a determination whether those fall under schedule 5 or schedule 6."
Mojapelo says it's alleged the pastor and his accomplices assaulted congregants during church services when they failed to make make the necessary offerings.
"Many of the assaults took place in the church premises itself and the rapes were committed around Polokwane and Seshego. There were actually two rapes that were allegedly committed around 2012 by the pastor."
The pastor was apparently out on R2000 bail when he was arrested.
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