PASTOR ARRESTED FOR RAPE OF GIRL (16)

MBABANE – Did Pastor Themba Trustworthy Mavuso take a counselling session with a teenage girl too far?

The clergyman has since been arrested for allegedly raping a 16-year-old minor he had been tasked to counsel for her wayward behaviour
Mavuso (52) of Extension 3 in Mbabane had been requested by the mother of the child to talk sense to her (teenager) after she exhibited unbecoming behaviour. 
However, the clergyman reportedly took advantage of the situation and allegedly proceeded to rape the minor two times last month.

He has been charged with contravening Section 3(1) and Section 3) (a) of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act.
Section 3 of the Act stipulates that an unlawful sexual act constitutes a sexual act committed under any of the following circumstances: in any coercive circumstances; under false pretence or fraudulent means; in respect of a person who is incapable in law of appreciating the nature of the sexual act; duress, psychological oppression or fear of violence.

According to the Crown, Mavuso’s charge was accompanied by aggravating circumstances, in that the complainant was 16 years during the commission of the offence and was a person who was incapable in law of appreciating the nature of the sexual act.
Mavuso made his first appearance at the Mbabane Magistrates Court where he was remanded in custody.

Through his attorney Linda Dlamini of Linda Dlamini and Associates, Mavuso yesterday filed an urgent bail application at the High Court where he denied to have committed the offence.
He informed the court that he was arrested by members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service and was subsequently charged with contravening the SODV Act.

Wayward

Narrating how he came to know the complainant, Mavuso submitted that sometime around March 2019, the girl’s mother approached him and requested that he speaks to her as she felt she was wayward.
The man of the cloth said he did not object to the request and he informed the mother of the complainant that he would make means to speak to her daughter.

“Around the month of April, a date of which I do not recall, the complainant arrived at my residence and I surmise it was on the instruction of her mother following her complaints that her daughter was exhibiting wayward behaviour,” submitted the pastor.
He alleged that he tried to engage the complainant on several occasions during the month of April in an attempt to ascertain the source of the allegations against her by her mother.
Mavuso claimed that during his engagement with the complainant, he established that the tension was caused by family problems.

“I advised the complainant that the family feuds were the fiercest and she should try by all means to keep peace with her elders. That was in line with the request and/or instruction by her mother,” alleged the accused pastor.
He averred that the charges against him were spurious and he suspected that the complainant was shielding the real culprit.
The bail application will be heard at the High Court today and the Crown is yet to indicate its intention.

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