Cape Town - A pastor who founded the church ministry known as the Christ Healing Fountain in Manenberg in Cape Town was refused bail on Friday as he awaits sentencing for raping the same woman twice.
David Mteteleu Mnapu, 50, appeared in the Parow Sexual Offences Court before Magistrate Mandy van Leeve. He pleaded not guilty to both counts in April when his trial started. After finding him guilty on both counts in May, she declared his R1000 bail lapsed and ordered that he remain in custody.
An offender’s bail lapses if found guilty – as happened to Mnapu – and to be released on bail again, pending the sentence, the offender has to launch a new bail application.
Mnapu did so in Friday’s proceedings but the application was refused on the grounds that he had failed to satisfy the court there were substantial and compelling circumstances justifying his release on bail – as contended by prosecutor Dercia Rabie. Van Leeve ordered that Mnapu remain in custody until his next appearance on August 23.
African News Agency