Pastor sentenced to two life terms for raping young girls and calling some congregants witches in Seshego

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Mankweng Regional Court has sentenced Devine Deliverance Church Pastor James Thubakgale to life imprisonment on charges of rape, common assault and calling a person a witch.

The 59 years old Thubakgale had already been serving two life terms at the time this recent sentencing.

It is said that the Seshego Pastor had been presenting himself as the man of God and that he was the chosen one sent to save them and demanded that they respect him. In declaring himself the most powerful man, he also demanded that his congregants call him judge as he will be the one next to God on judgement day.

Limpopo Regional Public Prosecution Spokesperson Mashudu Dzangi said that the Pastor also ordered his congregants to bring all heir money and retirement savings to the house of the Lord, to which they did believing the instruction for them to do so was from god himself.

“He would target young girls who were under 16 years of age and promised them marriage. He told them it was god himself who wanted them to marry him.”

Dzangi also added that these young girls were raped in his motor vehicle some at a lodge where he would pay for rental.

He would further threaten them with in their families should they disobey his orders and refuse to sleep with him. Those who refuse would often be scolded and be called witches.

“He assaulted them in full view of other congregants. All this happened between 2010 and 2017.”

Thubakgale was sentenced on September 30th, 2020 for raping of minor girls which occurred in 2011 and 2012.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment plus 10 years, two counts of rape, common assault and for calling someone a witch.