Curious community members in court to listen to the bail application of a Joza pastor arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl were made to wait a little longer, as the application was postponed yet again.
Curious community members in court to listen to the bail application of a Joza pastor arrested for allegedly raping a 14-year-old schoolgirl were made to wait a little longer, as the application was postponed yet again.
Residents packed the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court on Monday 16 October to hear the well-known pastor's bail application, but his formal bail application was postponed for the fourth time because his lawyer could not be in court.
The man, a former convict, was due to complete his parole next year, according to a reliable source. He looked calm as he took the stand and afterwards took a few minutes to observe the large group of community members present.
After his brief appearance, the community members and members of rights groups, including the ANC Women's League, left the court and the pastor went back to the court cells.
In a statement released after the pastor's arrest, police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender confirmed he had been arrested on Friday 13 September. "He faces charges of rape," she said.
Last week community members and pupils from a local school marched to the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court to voice their opposition to the bail application.
The pastor appeared before magistrate Nomnikelo Jebese and the case was postponed to 28 October.
