Two Zion Christian Church (ZCC) members, Vincent Matsaalela (18) and Marcus Maake (25) appeared in the Waterval Magistrate’s Court last Wednesday for allegedly raping a 17-year-old woman at her home in Matoks.

It was stated that the two claimed to be prophets when they allegedly raped the girl and attempted to rape the victim’s older sister. According to the testimony, the girl was coming from the church when she was approached by the two suspects, who allegedly claimed that they were prophets. They allegedly told the girl they want "to prophesize her".

The court heard that Matsaalela asked the victim where her father was. She told him her father had passed away some years ago, and one of the accused told her that his prophecy was telling him that her father wouldn’t reach heaven. It was also testified that the two further asked where their mother was and she told them that her mother was in Johannesburg. They then decided that they had to go with her to her place.

When they arrived, they found the victim’s grandmother and her elder sister seated outside. The two suspects told the granny and the sister that they had been ordered by the church "to prophesize" the girl.

According to a statement, they then went inside the house with the victim and they filled the bath with water. They then ordered the girl to take off her clothes and requested her to get into the bath. According to the testimony, the girl first refused, but later agreed, as they told her that she had some dirt in her womb.

It was also testified that Matsaalela started to bath her for few minutes, after which the accused ordered her to come out of the water and lie on the bed. They further told her that their prophecy told them that she had some dirt inside her womb and if this was not removed, she would die. According to the testimony, Maake was carrying a walking stick and ordered the victim to open her legs. He then inserted the stick into her private parts. The girl was screaming at the time, and the accused added that the stick was not reaching some of the places which they claimed contained some dirt. He decided that he should use his penis ‘to remove the dirt".

The girl testified that she first refused, but agreed when she was told she was going to die. She added that the accused then inserted his penis and started having sexual intercourse with her. She then realized that he was not removing the dirt, but simply having sex with her. She stated that when he finished, he ordered her to have a bath.

According to the victim, while everything was happening, Matsaalela was writing everything down. They then got out of the house and met the girl’s sister and the granny, who were still seated outside.

It was testified that the accused then claimed that the sister had some dirt in her as well and she was called into the house and given the same instructions. She then undressed herself, but when ordered to open the legs, she refused. She then told them she was going to inquire from the priest if the prophecy was true.

When the priest was told, he told the sisters the prophecy was not real.

During their court proceedings, the prosecutor, Adv Sámi Mukhari, argued that the two should be found guilty, based on the facts that the sexual intercourse was not an order from the church. He added that the two used their position of trust to have sex with the girl. "They must be both found guilty as they assisted each other to rape the girl," said Mukhari.

Adv Malanguti, who was representing the eldest accused, argued that his client should not be found guilty as there is no evidence that his client had penetrated the victim. Adv Max Sikutshi argued on behalf of the youngest accused that he should not be found guilty either.

Chief Magistrate Ronny Rambau postponed the case to the 20th of May for judgment.