Triple rape accused pastor denied bail

A Khayelitsha pastor has been arrested and has made a court appearance yesterday at the Khayelitsha Magistrate Court. The pastor has been accused of raping 3 girls and is due to remain behind bars until his next court appearance which is going to be next year.

Pastor Siyabulela Matini who is age 42 and is from the Worship of God Church, faces 3 counts of rape. The pastor has been accused of raping 3 girls between the ages of 10-14. Reports came that two of the girls were siblings. He was denied bailed as his court date coincided with the start of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. The community leader by the name of Nokhanyo Manyongo believes that the Pastor may have raped more girls who haven’t come forth. The community leader went on to say that the pastor should remain behind bars as he is a danger to society.

The Departments of Government Communication and Information System, and Justice and Constitutional Development, were yesterday joined by residents and local NGOs who marched through Khayelitsha to highlight the plight of women and children.

By Chuma Matiwane