Butterworth pastor to stand trial on charge of raping boy, 16

Butterworth police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said apparently the victim, who cannot be named due to the nature of the crime, had been suffering from a severe headache and so his parents took him to the suspect’s home to get help.

The victim’s parents allowed him to stay at the pastor’s home for eight months from April last year until last month. He was kept there because he was not getting any better.

“The teenage boy left the pastor’s house last month. He went to Cape Town to his relatives and that is where the victim’s relatives noticed that he was allegedly sexually assaulted,” said Manatha.

Manatha said the relatives asked the victim, who allegedly confessed to what had been happening.

“The boy broke his silence and alleged that while he was at the pastor’s shack, he was raped by the pastor.”

Police were notified and a rape case was opened at Msobomvu police station on Wednesday. The pastor was swiftly arrested.

“The man was arrested on Wednesday evening and on Friday he appeared in Butterworth Magistrate’s Court on charges of rape. He was not asked to plead and his case was postponed to February 22,” Manatha said. “He was kept in custody.”