'Rapist' pastor trying to get bail

UGLY scenes outside the Polokwane Magistrate's Court again marked the continuing bail application hearing of a Limpopo pastor accused of repeatedly raping two young members of his congregation.

The charges against James Thubakgale, founder of the Deliverance Church of Christ in Seshego, has divided his congregation, which on Friday hurled insults at each other.

A young pastor in the church allegedly roughed up his elderly father, who is opposed to the granting of bail to Thubakgale.

Thubakgale has insisted he is innocent and claims the charges were orchestrated by a group he expelled from his church for misconduct.

He was first arrested on December 31 for the alleged rape of a 14-year-old girl. He was granted bail of R2000 in the Seshego Magistrate's Court.

But he was immediately rearrested for allegedly repeatedly raping a 16-year-old girl and a 20-year-old woman.

In court on Friday his right-hand man and church pastor, Julius Mojapelo, supported Thubakgale's version of a conspiracy.

He said the 16-year-old girl's parents were pastors and part of a group Thubakgale had expelled from the church.

Mojapelo said the 20-year-old girl had been offered a bursary by the church to study information technology but this was withdrawn in November because of "her unbecoming behaviour".

"She failed her exams. We also received reports that she frequented nightclubs and other unsavoury places," he said.

The hearing continues today.