A CHATSWORTH pastor has been charged with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old boy from his congregation, sparking community outrage and calls for justice.
The 54-year-old man made his first appearance in the Chatsworth Magistrate’s Court, on Thursday. He is expected to apply for bail later this week.
The pastor allegedly handed himself over to police on Thursday, after residents protested on Tuesday outside his home and threatened to kill him if he did not do so.
It has been alleged the pastor had molested the boy from October 2024, and groomed him by kissing and fondling him at his Bayview home.
In February this year, he allegedly raped the boy.
Brandon Pillay, chairperson of the Bayview Community Policing Forum (CPF) and director of the Bayview Ubuntu Community Centre, said he was notified of the incident by the boy’s family last week.
“A case was opened. Word of the incident spread through the community and residents were angry. When the police arrived to arrest the suspect he was not at home. The community then protested outside his house, demanding his arrest and removal from the community. It was almost 48 hours later, when he handed himself over to the police. This was after much persuasion from other ministers and family members,” Pillay said.
He said residents have planned to stage a protest outside court during the bail hearing.
“The allegations are of a serious nature and we call upon the judiciary to act in the best interest of the victim and the community. We are asking the State to oppose bail in this matter.
“As a community and society, we must protect our children at all times. The Bayview CPF and the community at large strongly condemn any acts of abuse on our children. As a community, we will always stand with victims and survivors,” said Pillay.