Six accused aged between 21 and 85 were remanded in custody until Monday, 13 June 2022, consequent to appearance in the Rustenburg Magistrates’ Court yesterday for contravention of Section 22 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No. 32 of 2007) and crimen injuria.

The accused; three males and three females, who are alleged to be members of an unidentified church, were arrested in Sondela Phase 1, Boitekong outside Rustenburg on Friday, 3 June 2022. That after being found naked together with 11 children, on Wednesday, 1 June 2022, in a house used as a church. The only individual who was found wearing clothes, was a 34-year-old female church leader. Subsequent to preliminary investigations, all children between the ages of four to 12, of which six are boys and five are girls, were removed from the house and handed to social workers for intervention, and ultimately placed under the care of other family members.

According to information received, the house that was used as a church, partially burnt on Friday due to items including a couch which were set alight by the church leader who is also one of the accused persons. She was arrested and charged on Sunday, 5 June 2022, after being discharged from the hospital where she was admitted two days earlier.

Investigation into the matter continues.

Source: South African Police Service