A 45-year-old pastor has been found guilty of raping a hitch-hiker, taking her clothes and leaving her naked in the bushes after violating her.

A 45 year old pastor who threatened a hitchhiker at gunpoint has been convicted of rape and robbery in the Witbank regional court in Mpumalanga.

Police said Chris Derrick Gabisani Xaba, had offered his 39-year-old victim a lift in  December 2019. The woman desperate to get to Nelspruit accepted what appeared at the time to be generous offer.

Police spokesperson Brig Leonard Hlathi said as soon as the woman got inside the car, Xaba said he needed to collect other commuters who were heading in the same direction. A Little while later Xaba drove to a secluded area at a farm near Witbank, took out a firearm and threatened to kill the woman if she did not co-operate. After brullally raping the girl he robbed her of her personal belonging, including the clothes she was wearing, then shot a fire into the air to scare the victim before leaving.

The traumatised victim somehow managed to go to a nearby house where she was offered help and taken to the nearest police station. A case of rape and robbery was opened but the suspect was only apprehended 3 months later.

Police allegedly found him in possession of two stolen cars. They also discovered Xaba was out on bail in another rape case registered against him in Kwaggafontein in December 2019.

On Thursday Xaba was convicted of rape and robbery, he will be sentenced march 17 2021.

by Everngelista Muza