adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 25-YEAR-OLD self proclaimed prophet raped a 12-year-old epileptic girl from Empandeni area under the pretext of healing her. Thulani Moyo yesterday appeared before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa facing rape charges and was remanded in custody to May 6. Moyo is alleged to have approached the girl’s family two weeks ago under the pretext that he could make his victim walk again.
Prosecuting, Medica Tshuma said the alleged rapist ordered the girl not to report the matter, but she told her aunt the following day leading to his arrest.
“The accused person summoned the complainant, who is epileptic, into his room on 21 May and claimed that he wanted to heal her. He removed her clothes and raped her once. He returned her to her bedroom hut afterwards and ordered her to remain quiet about the incident,” said Tshuma
In an interview, the juvenile’s grandmother told Chronicle that Moyo had promised to “cleanse” the whole family saying the girl was bewitched.
She said on the day the offence was committed, Moyo told the family that he had to conduct the healing process overnight while alone with his would be victim and was granted permission to proceed with the alleged prayer session.
‘’He then offered to help as he said he was prophet. He told us that our daughter had been bewitched and promised to cleanse her and the whole family,’’ the grandmother said.
The area’s headman, Misheck Ncube, said in an interview that Moyo was an impostor who had managed to fool a number of people in the area.
“He came to our area under the pretext of being a prophet. It is important for people to be careful when strangers approach them offering assistance. This man pretended to be a prophet but he did not have any documents to prove who he said he was.
‘’He is inhumane and I wonder where he got the courage to rape a child in a wheelchair,’’ he said.
Online Reporter