A court in South Africa has sent a pastor to spend 30 years in jail after he was found guilty for rape and sexual assault on young men.
Sthembiso Nathaniel Kubheka, (38), was sentenced in Witbank Regional Court for raping and sexually assaulting young men.
Kubheka preyed on young men posing as a pastor. He hosted revival crusades in different areas across KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Leonard Hlati said Kubheka would make friends with the victims and lure them through social media platforms to visit him in Vosman near Witbank.
By December 2016, Khubeka had already managed to build trust with his victims and enticed them by promising to conduct private prayers for them.
Witness accounts showed that once the victims arrived at his residence, the accused would make sexual advances and about 5 males, then aged between 17 and 23, fell into his convincing trap.
Hlathi said police were notified about Kubheka’s actions and the matter was investigated leading to his arrest on 27th July 2016.
During the trial, Kubheka failed to defend himself against the overwhelming evidence brought against him.
Khubeka was sentenced to 10 years for rape and 10 years for each count of sexual assault.
After the sentence was read, court indicated that Kubheka will have an option to apply for a parole on the count of rape and two counts of sexual assault.
Mpumalanga provincial commissioner Lieutenant Mondi Zuma lauded investigators and the judiciary for the work done saying the sentence will deter others who would want to commit the same crime.