KEY POINTS
- The 51-year-old religious leader who faces charges including assault alongside attempted murder and rape will attend a bail hearing at court on February 20.
- During spiritual healing sessions the accused individual took advantage of people to perform sexual acts against their will.
- Community members together with advocacy groups strongly oppose granting bail to the accused because they demand both justice for his previous offenses and more victims to come forward.
The residents of Khayelitsha fight for justice because of sexual abuse accusations against someone there.
On February 20 the accused Khayelitsha pastor faces another court appearance for his bail status hearing concerning his rape and attempted murder and assault charges.
Xolani Mbeka stands trial for sexually abusing three different victims in their teens through adulthood with the youngest being 15 years old. The local community conducted demonstrations after it became known that he impregnated one of his victims.
Manipulation under the guise of healing
Research from National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila shows that the accused person attracted his victims by presenting himself as a religious healer.
Police documents show that Mbeka directed religious seekers who needed spiritual help to remain at his church before forcing sexual contact upon them.
Wesley Twigg from SAPS verified the arrest of this pastor by the cops from the Khayelitsha Family Violence Child Protection Sexual Offences Unit following allegations from multiple victims.
Twigg reported that religious seekers came to the pastor for treatment but he directed them to the church residence before coercing them into sex while pretending it was essential for their recovery.
Community stands against bail
All residents from Endloveni unanimously oppose the pastor’s attempt to gain bail status from detention. Ward Councillor Lonwabo Mqina demands additional victims to report their experiences of exploitation.
The organization Ilitha Labantu which supports gender-based violence victims strongly criticized the misuse of religious roles in such cases.
Manipulating victims under false pretenses of healing represents a complete breach of trust as well as an enormous abuse of authority. Faith communities serve as sanctuaries whereby predators should not take advantage of vulnerable individuals according to spokesperson Siyabulela Monakali.
The victims receive both medical and psychological support as investigations carry on with law enforcement.
