A Nigerian pastor charged with human trafficking, sexual assault and the rape of young girls is expected back in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The 58-year-old televangelist allegedly trafficked more than 30 girls and women who were from various branches of his church to a house in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, where he allegedly sexually exploited them.
The pastor faces 22 charges related to contravention of the Sexual Offences Act‚ which include charges of rape and sexual assault.
In a separate case, he also faces five additional charges of fraud and for being in the country illegally.
Meanwhile, two women will be back in court on Tuesday, for allegedly aiding the controversial pastor.
It is alleged that Lusanda Solani, 36 of Durban, and Zukiswa Sitho, 28, of Port Elizabeth, recruited girls all over the country and monitored their movements in the houses where they were being kept.
The women were arrested last month and are out on bail of R2,000.
The pastor was arrested on April 20 by the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) at the Port Elizabeth Airport.
According to the State, some of the alleged victims are as young as 13 years old.
– African News Agency (ANA)
