Mahikeng Ministers Fellowship(MMF) has expressed shock that a Zeerust pastor has been arrested in connection with an elderly woman’s rape ordeal.

“Although we subscribe to the principle of innocent until proven guilty, we wish to condemn in the strongest terms possible the despicable act allegedly committed by one we expected to be at the forefront of the fight against the scourge of rape and gender based violence,” Chairperson of MMF( an interdenominational pastors fellowship),Apostle Zandisile Reginald Mpame underscored on Friday.

The 35-year-old pastor was denied bail after he appeared in the Motsedi Magistrate’s court on a charge of rape on Monday.

The pastor,Melusi Shepperd Lugalo allegedly raped a 68-year-old woman on Saturday morning.

He had given the woman a lift before he sexually molested her.

According to police,the incident happened in Radikhudu village at about 7am.

“It is alleged that the victim,who stays in Botswana,visited her relatives in Dinokana on the said date,she was at the hitch-hiking spot when a Volkswagen Polo stopped next to her to offer her a lift. She allegedly got inside the vehicle and the accused allegedly drove to a nearby bushes and raped the victim,”Captain Pelonomi Makau said.

Makau said that the victim later managed to escape and sought help from passing motorists.

“She was assisted and the accused was apprehended after police were called.”

The accused was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on Monday.  

In expressing disappointment with the developments and sympathy with the victim, Apostle Mpame said that pastors as spiritual leaders are expected to play a crucial role in leading public advocacy to mobilise men in their communities to speak out against violence against vulnerable elderly,women and girls and to defy the destructive stereotypes that serve to normalise gender inequality.

“Silence is the best friend of impunity that needs to be broken for intensified united action to stamp out the scourge of rape and gender based violence,” Mpame stressed.
-TDN
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