Katlehong pastor accused of rape tells court his love for victim was more than that for his wife

Arise and Shine leader Benjamin Dingiso told the Johannesburg high court on Tuesday that his love for one of the eight boys he is alleged to have sexually assaulted was deeper than the love he had for his wife.  

The Katlehong pastor is facing 31 counts of rape, sexual grooming of children, sexual assault and attempted rape of several boys who were part of his church. 

The state cross-examined him on the WhatsApp conversations he had with one victim who was the first prophetic trainee at his church.  

The pastor couldn't answer most questions regarding the testimony of witnesses implicating him in the cases he is accused of, and said he couldn't comment. 

Prosecutor advocate Tshimangadzo Mbodi put it to Dingiso that during the proceedings he had listened to and heard the testimony of witnesses, so the court needed to understand why he could not comment.

“I have no comment,” he replied. 

The victim, who joined the church in 2014 at the age of 14, left but later returned. Dingiso said they had an agreement which included having a close relationship that did not include lust.  

He said he would travel with the victim to other churches, and the victim had recommitted to go back to church and serve under him. He worked at his office as a personal assistant and would give him massages.  

The state asked if there was a void in his marriage, to which he replied there wasn't.  

“We had a discussion [with a victim] after he had left and came back. It was the agreement between myself and the victim in the journey that we would be partaking in because we have not yet partaken into that in the journey,” he said.

The state asked if he was in the same relationship with his wife compared to the victim.

“No. The purpose thereof is different,” he said.  

There wasn't any void in his marriage and the relationships he had with the victim and his wife were not the same, he said.

“The relationship with a wife involves all other aspects of the relationship and the lust. With the [victim] it did not involve lust.”

His relationship with the victim was a sacrifice of love, he said, quoting a verse from the Bible to back this up.

“For example, in second Samuel chapter 1 verse 26: Oh Jonathan, your love unto me was more than of the love of a woman,” he told the court. 

The verse, however, reads: “I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother; you were very dear to me. Your love for me was wonderful, more wonderful than that of women.” 

The trial continues.    

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