19/07/2008 17:31 - (SA)
Pastor in rape outrage
By Sonia Molema
A POPULAR Tshwane pastor, who runs a number of charismatic churches in Gauteng, has been accused of raping a 19-year-old student.
The pastor has yet to be questioned by the police despite the incident having been reported at the Garsfontein police station on May 27.
The woman's relatives lodged a complaint against the police with the Independent Complaints Directorate, the police watchdog body, this week.
"It's shocking that the police have treated this serious offence so lightly.
"My niece has pointed out his house to them but they failed to arrest him," said the woman's uncle.
In her statement to the police, the student said the pastor had invited her to his house on May 26 at about 10pm and that he had said they were going to be joined by other church members for a prayer session.
The pastor, she said, then invited her to his bedroom where he then allegedly raped her.
She said the pastor then took her home.
The woman is undergoing counseling.
"After the rape, it was difficult for her to concentrate on her studies and we decided she should drop out," said the woman's uncle.
"That man, who we regarded to be a man of God, has destroyed my niece's future and shattered her dreams of furthering her studies," said the uncle.
Tshwane police spokesperson Inspector Susan du Preez confirmed a case of rape had been opened against the man.
But she denied the police were dragging their feet in arresting him.
"The police are still looking for the suspect and are busy with their investigations."
The pastor was unavailable for comment.
Independent Complaints Directorate spokesperson Dikeledi Phiri confirmed a complaint had been lodged.
Phiri said the matter would be investigated.
Church elders who spoke to City Press Gauteng said they would comment, but had not done so at the time of going to press.
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