Police grab 'rapist' in church

A RAPIST lost his freedom after turning up at a church where his victim worships, a court heard yesterday.

Mduduzi Ndlovu, 30, of Nkulumane suburb in Bulawayo, was apprehended by ushers after his alleged victim, 39, pointed him out during prayers.

Ndlovu appeared before regional magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi yesterday to deny charges of rape and robbery.

Thulani Sigombe, an usher at the Zambuko Church in Pumula, took the witness stand and described how Ndlovu had initially tried to run away when his victim spotted him.

"This man tried to run after the woman whispered that he was the man who raped and robbed her. We gave chase and caught him and we asked him to come into the church with us. The pastors asked him a few questions and then we handed him over to police," said Sigombe.

Masimba Saruwaka, prosecuting, said that on April 10 at 6.30PM at a maize field near Sedgemore Butchery, the alleged victim was walking from Pumula South with her neighbour.

Three men emerged from a maize field, among them Ndlovu, who was holding a screw drive.

Ndlovu ordered the women to stop and searched them, grabbing their two mobile phones, $1 and 6kg of chicken cuts which were in a bucket.

Ndlovu, the court heard, then dragged the victim into the maize field for about 600 metres and ordered her to undress. He raped her once and fled.

Taking the witness stand in his own defence, Ndlovu told the court that he had never seen the victim.

"I was arrested the day I went to church and it was because of a woman I don't know. Actually, I only know that the woman is friends with my ex-wife," he said.

"I was called by some ushers who indicated there was a meeting inside the church where I found the pastor and the woman kneeling.

They asked if I knew the lady kneeling and I said 'no', and afterwards I was interrogated and taken to the police station."

The trial continues on August 27.