News / Regional
Prophet rapes woman during a "cleansing ceremony"
23 Jul 2012 at 03:22hrs | Views
A Beitbridge man, 30, also a self-proclaimed prophet was on Friday arraigned before the courts for allegedly raping and impregnating a local woman during a "cleansing ceremony" in a bushy area in Makakavhule village.
Thembelani Dube, of Makakavhule village under Chief Sitauze area in Beitbridge District, was not asked to plead to three counts of rape as defined in section 65 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 when he appeared before Beitbridge provincial resident magistrate, Ms Gloria Takundwa.He was remanded in custody to 26 July pending his appearance at the regional court.
The prosecutor, Mr Reason Mutimba said on an unknown date during the month of January this year, the complainant visited Dube at his homestead to seek help so that her husband would return from South Africa. Dube then prophesied claiming that the complainant had a bad omen, which needed to be cleansed, and was the main cause behind her marital problems.
He then invited the woman to accompany him the following day to a nearby bushy area where he intended to conduct the cleansing ceremony.
On arrival at the shrine, Dube allegedly ordered the woman to take off her clothes and told her that it was part of the rituals and the victim complied.
He allegedly told the complainant to dig a hole and bury her clothes and while she was in the process of doing so, Dube allegedly grabbed her by her waist and pinned her to the ground before allegedly raping her.
Dube allegedly raped the woman on three separate occasions resulting in her falling pregnant.
On realising that she was pregnant, the woman reported the matter to the police leading to Dube's arrest.
Thembelani Dube, of Makakavhule village under Chief Sitauze area in Beitbridge District, was not asked to plead to three counts of rape as defined in section 65 (1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 when he appeared before Beitbridge provincial resident magistrate, Ms Gloria Takundwa.He was remanded in custody to 26 July pending his appearance at the regional court.
The prosecutor, Mr Reason Mutimba said on an unknown date during the month of January this year, the complainant visited Dube at his homestead to seek help so that her husband would return from South Africa. Dube then prophesied claiming that the complainant had a bad omen, which needed to be cleansed, and was the main cause behind her marital problems.
He then invited the woman to accompany him the following day to a nearby bushy area where he intended to conduct the cleansing ceremony.
On arrival at the shrine, Dube allegedly ordered the woman to take off her clothes and told her that it was part of the rituals and the victim complied.
He allegedly told the complainant to dig a hole and bury her clothes and while she was in the process of doing so, Dube allegedly grabbed her by her waist and pinned her to the ground before allegedly raping her.
Dube allegedly raped the woman on three separate occasions resulting in her falling pregnant.
On realising that she was pregnant, the woman reported the matter to the police leading to Dube's arrest.
Source - Courts
