Pastor guilty of rape, not sentenced yet

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Published Jun 20, 2016

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Cape Town - A church pastor who was to be sentenced on Monday on two charges of rape, has to wait until the end of the week - or longer - to hear his fate.

Pastor David Mteteleu Mnapu, 50, formerly attached to the church ministry known as the Christ Healing Fountain, in Manenberg, was found guilty last month of raping the same victim twice, first in a hotel room and then at his home in Pinelands.

He appeared in the Sexual Offences Court in Parow, before Magistrate Mandy van Leeve.

No sooner had the magistrate pronounced Mnapu guilty on both counts in May, than she also revoked his R1 000 bail and postponed the case to Monday for sentence.

When proceedings commenced on Monday, defence lawyer Uvile Siyo informed the court that she had taken the revocation of bail to the Western Cape High Court to review the proceedings.

The magistrate said she knew nothing about the High Court application, and that she needed a transcription of the proceedings before continuing with the case.

Siyo said she had instructions to bring an immediate application for the reinstatement of the revoked bail.

The magistrate said the court had no choice but to abide by the ruling of the High Court, and that she had no discretion either way whilst there was an application pending in the High Court.

She added: “I cannot make a decision on something that's pending in the High Court. I want a transcription of the proceedings in the High Court, before I do anything further.”

The case “stood down” for at least two hours.

When the proceedings resumed, Siyo said she was waiting for an e-mail from the registrar of the High Court, but that she wished to launch the bail application in the meanwhile.

The magistrate said the case was on Monday's roll for sentencing proceedings, and not for any bail application.

She added: “You cannot place anything on my roll without my permission.”

The defence attorney insisted, and the magistrate responded: “You cannot, absolutely cannot, place a matter on my roll without my permission. Nothing that you say will change my mind about this. I will schedule the bail application for Friday.”

Siyo said the accused was “not happy” about the delay, and was blaming her (Siyo).

Siyo added: “He says he's suffering, and so are his children, and that this amounts to a failure of justice.”

The magistrate ruled that the bail application would be heard on Friday, and that Mnapu would remain in custody until then.

African News Agency

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