A Bloemfontein religious leader has been sentenced to twelve years imprisonment for raping a Park Road policewoman.

Moshebelele Michael Lebajoa (52) was sentenced on Wednesday (13/12) in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court, a few weeks after he was found guilty on 1 November. The case dragged on for the past five years since his arrest on 10 December 2018.

Before sentencing, the accused took the stand for the last time for cross-examination by defence lawyer Adv. Lumka Diba and state prosecutor Adv. Ronelle Botha.

The Miracle Worship Centre bishop and military veteran told the court he has been married for 25 years and has been employed by the ministry since 2003 with average earnings of R20,000 through tithes in a good month. He rents a house for R5,500 monthly.

He has no previous convictions. He is a breadwinner for his two children and unemployed wife.

Lebajoa admitted to sleeping with the victim, but insisted he did not rape her. He disclosed to Magistrate Jan Greyvenstein that he had sent elders of the congregation together with his wife to try and speak to the victim so that they could reconcile following several text messages between the two before his arrest.

“I feel remorseful, this did not only affect me, but the victim and the community where I am … a leader,” he added, saying he could no longer be involved in community activities in JB Mafora township in Bloemfontein.

He said he’d used his church to combat crime and reconcile the BTK and Maroma gangs. He said he would even kneel in front of the complainant if allowed to apologise.

The prosecutor, however, argued that the complainant had been left with physical and psychological scars as a result of the incident. She read a statement of the victim complaining she now has to take medication to help her deal with the trauma, while her family is also going through trauma, worsened by the way she and her family are viewed in the community after she laid the charges.

‘She would’ve liked to burn the couch where the incident took place’

The victim also disclosed she would’ve liked to burn the couch where the incident took place, but she did burn the clothes she was wearing on the night of the incident.

In aggravation of the sentencing, Magistrate Greyvenstein explained he had to choose between the requests of the defence, which was to hand a suspended sentence to the victim under the supervision of correctional services or hand down a 15-year jail term as argued by the prosecutor.

The support structure of the complainant outside the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court after the sentencing of the bishop. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

Before handing down the judgment, Magistrate Greyvenstein said the accused did not show any remorse as he did not apologise from the beginning and did not plead guilty to rape charges.

Lebajoa was sentenced to 12 years direct imprisonment, found incompetent to possess a firearm, and was also placed on a database for sexual offenders.

‘This is the day I’ve been waiting for’

The victim, who wants to remain anonymous, expressed gratitude to the justice system. “Firstly, I’d like to thank God. The way I was suffering for the past five years … now I’m happy justice has taken its course.

“This is the day I‘ve been waiting for. Another part of me will come back only by the grace of God. I thank God for everything he has done for me and the people who have been supporting me from day one until today,” she said.

During the proceedings, it was revealed that Lebajoa raped the victim at her place of residence in Phase 2 on 5 December 2018. The matter was reported to the police and he was arrested and charged with rape five days later. The perpetrator made his first court appearance two days later and has since been out on R2,500 bail.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg/mc