Priest accused of repeated rape
2006-02-06 23:01
Riot Hlatshwayo and Glacier Nkhwashu
Tzaneen - A priest, who has been accused of repeatedly raping a young girl in his church, says God told him to do so.
The girl, who is 16, is now six months pregnant.
The priest can't be identified because he hasn't been asked to plead to a rape charge yet.
He's being tried in Tzaneen regional court and is out on bail of R1 000 until he appears again on March 16.
According to the girl's statement to police, her mother had taken her to the priest so he could pray for her because she was sick.
She was 14 years old at the time.
She claims he prayed for her repeatedly and then said God had instructed that they have sex in the church.
The priest also asked her to clean the church.
The girl's mother discovered what was afoot only when her daughter was five months' pregnant.
She told police she didn't notice sooner, because she worked far away and came home late at night.
She told police that when she confronted the priest, he claimed the unborn child was "holy".