PUPIL CAUGHT RAPING MINOR (12) DURING ALL-NIGHT PRAYER

MBABANE – A teenager, whose Zionist parents were hosting an all-night prayer, was allegedly caught having sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl during a power cut.
*Michael (18) of Ekupheleni in the Hhohho Region, who is a pupil, was arrested in the morning. Two counts under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 15/2028 were preferred against him. According to the charge, Michael, on November 10, 2024, at Ekupheleni, allegedly had sexual intercourse with the 12-year-old juvenile, thereby contravened the Act. The offence is accompanied by aggravating factors in that he reportedly did not use protection and the complainant is below 18 years old. The charge sheet also states that in the event that he is convicted, his name will be included in the national register for sex offenders. In the second charge, Michael, on the same day, allegedly maintained a sexual relationship with the minor.

The accused was arrested by Mbabane police and he appeared at the magistrate court on Monday and was remanded in custody pending committal to the High Court. Michael filed an application for bail at the High Court. He was represented by Sivesonkhe Ngwenya of Sivesonkhe Ngwenya and Associates. He stated that he was innocent of the charges against him. Michael told the court that on November 15, 2024, at Ekupheleni, his parental homestead, there was an all-night prayer service. He said his family is responsible for a Zion Church branch in the area. According to the accused, there was quite a number of people in attendance during all-night prayer service. He narrated that sometime around 2am, generator supplying power for illumination ran out of fuel, plunging the place into darkness.

The accused submitted that at that particular point in time, the congregants were moving out of the tent due to frustration over the power cut and fuel was being organized. He said like everyone else, he and his friend from school, *Noma, also went outside to stand by the wall of the main house with others who were attending the prayer service. “While at that a man whom we could not identify at that time approached us carrying a torch and accused us of having ran away from the church service.

Confused

“What confused me the most is that during his accusations he heavily assaulted us, uttering the words ‘nimeleni lamakhwaceleni nitawuze nigile imikhiba labumnyameni’,” said Michael.
He informed the court that they tried to explain that they were waiting for the lights to be restored and proceed with the church service.
“I must be candid with the honourable court and mention that he did not take any of that but continued to assault us saying ‘sukani nje lana anati yini kutsi bantfwana banyalo sebayalalana bagile imikhiba emakhwaceleni’.
“Owing to the fact that he was an adult we obliged since at home we have always been told to respect and oblige to an elder’s command,” the accused submitted.
Michael informed the court that in the morning, when others, including the complainant had left, those who remained behind were disassembling the tent and packing the chairs when the police arrived.
He said the police told them that they had been informed by the community police that there were allegations in the community that the complainant had been sexual assaulted. “Together with my friend, we were ordered to board the police van and taken to the police station for purposes of being questioned on the allegations of the sexual assault and/or rape.” Michael said, on arrival, they were detained instead of being questioned as the police had informed them. On the following day, according to Michael, they were told that they would appear in court for an alleged rape that happened during the all-night prayer. “I was so confused because I never committed any offence, be it on that night or any other day. I submit that these charges are a pure fabrication, more so because at the police station I was compelled to make a confession before a magistrate, having been told what to say if I wanted to gain my liberty,” Michael alleged.

He said that exercise failed as he got assistance from his attorney, who had been engaged by his family on his behalf. He pleaded with the court to release him because, among other reasons, his continued incarceration was prejudicial to him in that he was missing out on the internal examination. The teenager appeared before Judge John Magagula yesterday for the hearing of his bail application. The court granted him bail fixed at E15 000. He was ordered to pay E3 000 in cash and provide sureties for the balance.
*Not their real names

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