Pastor accused of satanic sex abuse

By Megan Ellis
iAfrica
March 3, 2015

http://news.iafrica.com/sa/985238.html

A Boksburg pastor appeared in the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Monday for allegedly taking part in the rape and molestation of a nine-year-old boy during a satanic ritual.

The pastor is accused of taking part in the rape along with the boy's grandparents and uncle.

The case was initially not pursued in 2013, but the SAPS Occult-Related Crime Unit was brought in to investigate and the four were arrested last month.

The rape and molestation of the boy had allegedly taken place multiple times, possibly over a number of years.

A satanic ritual allegedly took place at the Gospel Church of God in Witfield, where they four adults are said to have dressed in masks and red robes, praying in strange tongues while standing in a circle, The Star reported.

The child was allegedly forced to touch the adults' genitals and was then raped by his uncle. It is unclear whether an object was used in the rape.

Lieutenant-Colonel Hendrik de Jager said that he was contacted by a relative of the boy who threatened to kill the child and his mother if the case continued.

The boy had also allegedly been threatened by his grandfather. He is accused of pointing a gun at the boy and threatening to kill him if he told anyone about the abuse.

Defence lawyer Henk Strydom however has said that his clients will plead not guilty to the charges.

He questioned the claims of the child.

"Do we really trust this child?" Strydom asked. "That is for the trial court to determine."

Judgement on whether the four accused will receive bail will be delivered on Tuesday.