Pastor to sue over rape claims

Cape Town21-07-2015:Man of God Pastor Mthetheleli David Mnapu speaking to the Daily Voice team about accusation that are writen on the church's website.Picture Mlondolozi Mbolo reporter Mpumi Kiva

Cape Town21-07-2015:Man of God Pastor Mthetheleli David Mnapu speaking to the Daily Voice team about accusation that are writen on the church's website.Picture Mlondolozi Mbolo reporter Mpumi Kiva

Published Jul 22, 2015

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Cape Town - A Cape Town pastor accused of rape and fraud plans to take one of his former congregants to court for defamation of character.

The pastor is now trying to get rid of the derogatory statements made about him on his church’s website, which he said was posted by the disgruntled boyfriend of a woman who didn’t make the cut for the church choir.

“She doesn’t have a voice befitting the choir so she was kindly requested to stop singing,” said Pastor Mthetheleli Mnaphu of the Christ Healing Fountain Ministries in Lansdowne.

He added that shortly after this, someone posted rude comments about him on the church website labelling him a “liar and a rapist who sleeps with girls in his ministry”.

The writer also accused Mnaphu of destroying marriages, and calling himself an angel, adding: “[He says] no one can die in his ministry yet people pass away every year.”

The worshipper who allegedly wrote the message as well as the axed choir singer have since quit the church.

Mnaphu, from Pinelands, denied all the allegations, saying it was a case of sour grapes.

“I know the member of the church who posted this on the website.

“It’s one of the members who was working in our IT department. He is disgruntled after his fiancé was expelled from the choir because of her voice.”

Mnaphu added that other members of the church are not bothered by the allegations: “These are all lies and I don’t know where this man comes up with these accusations.

“That is the reason I took the route of going to court so that he can prove all the allegations against me.

“Yes, this has hurt me so much, but with the support of the church I am pulling through.”

The identity of the congregant who allegedly posted the message is known to the Daily Voice, but he did not take any of our calls on Tuesday.

Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that a case of crimen injuria has been opened for investigation.

Van Wyk said: “No arrest has been made.”

Daily Voice

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