'Priest' is accused of raping girl

A MAN who claims to be a Zion Christian Church pastor has been charged with the rape of a teenage member of a congregation

The girl had gone to seek spiritual healing to eliminate bad luck when the incident happened in Jane Furse, Limpopo, on Sunday night.

Police spokesperson Constable Moses Molepo said yesterday that the 26-year-old pastor was arrested on Sunday evening after the victim complained to her parents that she had been raped.

Molepo said the pastor had ordered the victim to remove her clothes and take a bath before he could perform the cleansing ritual.

The pastor allegedly raped the girl while bathing, claiming he was cleansing her of the bad luck.

"The victim was taken to the Jane Furse Hospital, where a doctor confirmed penetration had taken place," Molepo said.

He appealed to members of the community to be careful with "bogus traditional healers" and pastors who raped their victims.

Molepo said the victim was counselled and further medical examinations conducted to determine what physical and psychological impact she had suffered during the rape that took place at the pastor's house.

"Parents must always insist to be present when rituals are being performed on their children," he said.

The pastor is expected to appear in the Nebo magistrate's court today.

Local civic secretary Makena Mokgopa said the number of women and children being raped in the area was worrying.