Alleged sex pest pastor's case heading to High Court

A Nigerian pastor charged with human trafficking and the rape of young girls on Thursday returned to the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court together with his two alleged henchwomen. A report on the IoL site notes that the televangelist allegedly trafficked more than 30 girls and women who were from various branches of his church to a house in Umhlanga, KZN, where he allegedly sexually exploited them. Alleged accomplices Lusanda Solani, of Durban, and Zukiswa Sitho, of Port Elizabeth, allegedly recruited girls all over the country and monitored their movements in the houses where they were being kept. All three are being represented by Port Elizabeth attorney Peter Daubermann. Advocate Zelda Swanepoel, for the state, said a possible trial date had been set for between 31 July to 30 September. The dates were provisional pending the availability of Daubermann. Daubermann told the court that he had lodged a petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal for leave to appeal against the pastor’s denial of bail by Magistrate Thandeka Mashiyi. The pastor has been denied bail on two occasions, as he was deemed a flight risk. The women were arrested in November last year and are out on bail of R2 000. The case was postponed until 11 April when the matter may be transferred to the Eastern Cape High Court (Port Elizabeth).