A Limpopo pastor who lured teenage girls, aged between 14 and 17, to his church under the guise of spiritual guidance has been sentenced to two life terms and an additional 45 years in prison for multiple rapes and sexual assault.

Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says the Naphuno Magistrate’s Court on July 31, 2025, found 39-year-old Confidence Monyela guilty of a string of crimes involving minor girls aged between 14 and 17, committed between 2016 and 2017 in the Maake policing area.

“The rape incidents were committed while the accused was allegedly inviting the victims to come to his church in the evening for spiritual sermons. Upon their arrival at the premises, Confidence Monyela prayed for the victims and later raped them,” Ledwaba 

Ledwaba added that Monyela used religious threats to silence the victims.

“The minor girls were threatened not to tell anyone because the Holy Spirit would kill them if they did not comply with the instruction.”

He would then drive them home after the assaults.

The abuse came to light in August 2017, when one of the victims confided in a social worker, who informed the girl’s parents. A case was opened and Maake police registered five counts of rape. Monyela was arrested by the SAPS Tracking Team.

The Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit (FCS) assigned Sergeant Klaas Mulungwa to investigate the matter. Monyela was later released on R15,000 bail but was taken back into custody on the day of sentencing.

The court handed down the following sentences:

• Count 1: Life imprisonment for Rape
• Count 2: Life imprisonment for Rape
• Count 3: 10 years for Rape
• Count 4: 10 years for Rape
• Count 5: 10 years for Rape
• Count 6: 05 years for Sexual Assault

The sentences for counts 3, 4, 5, and 6 will run concurrently with the life imprisonment imposed on the first two counts.

The court also declared the pastor unfit to possess a firearm.

IOL News

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