CEO PHIL MNISI STANDS AS SURETY FOR RAPE SUSPECT PASTOR

MBABANE – Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Swaziland Sugar Association (SSA), Philemon Mnisi, has stood as surety for a pastor who stands charged with rape.

Sithembiso Magagula (30) of Msinda in Mandlangempisi, who is a pastor at Potter’s House Church, has been arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old member of the church. Magagula, who is married, is alleged to have raped the minor on several occasions.  Due to trauma, the minor is reported to be attending counselling sessions at the National Psychiatric Hospital, in Manzini.

According to the Crown, Magagula allegedly abused the relationship of trust with the complainant as he was her pastor. Coincidentally, Magagula was arrested on February 18, 2018, which was a Sunday. The exact place where the alleged rape took place is not mentioned in the charge sheet except for the location, which is Mliba.

The clergyman is alleged to have raped the young congregant during the month of August 2016. The Crown submitted that the rape was accompanied by aggravating circumstances as envisaged by Section 185 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act 67/1983. The aggravating circumstances, according to the Crown, included that he allegedly inflicted life trauma on the complainant who was a minor and that he allegedly raped her several times.

Through his attorney Sifiso Jele of Mabila Attorneys, the accused yesterday filed an application for bail at the High Court. He denied having committed the offence and alleged that the charge against him was trumped up.
Magagula told the court that he was arrested by members of the Royal Swaziland Police based at Mliba and subsequently charged with rape.

“I am innocent of the charge against me and I will plead not guilty to same,” submitted the pastor. He said pending the hearing of his matter, he was desirous of being admitted to bail as he had great prospects of success. Magagula contended that he also had a good defence to the charge.

“I did not commit the offence of rape as I have never had the intention or the opportunity to do that,” argued the man of the cloth. The accused told the court that he strongly believed that these false allegations were perpetrated by the mother of the complainant. He claimed that he was not in good terms with the mother of the complainant despite that they attended the same church.

“I humbly state that in the year 2016, I rented a shop at Mliba together with one General Magagula. The complainant’s mother asked that we allow her to sell her wares at the shop and we agreed,” alleged Magagula.
According to the pastor, the mother of the complainant then added her items to include those that they were already selling.  This, according to the pastor, led to differences between them.
He averred that the relationship between them deteriorated to such an extent that they decided to remove her from the premises.

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