A 41-year-old woman from Phase 6 in Mangaung, South Africa, was devastated when she found out that her 13 year old daughter tested positive for HIV after she was raped, allegedly by a neighbour who is a church elder.
“I was shocked and furious to find out that this monster raped my daughter in his car every time they came back from the church service – and this has been going on since September last year,” said the woman.
The mum, who has been HIV-positive for three years, took her daughter to a doctor who confirmed the girl’s positive status and they now both on ARVs.
“I thought we were friends. I used to collect my ARVs with my neighbour. What is most painful is that I trusted that man and regarded him as family,” she said.
The 42-year-old House of Redemption church elder was arrested last Tuesday.
On Sunday the mum went to the church to tell the congregation about the incident.
House of Redemption Pastor France Mosala said the suspect wasn’t a pastor at the church but an elder who had certain responsibilities.
“He hasn’t been here long. He worked with Sunday School kids.”
Constable Finah Mpakane confirmed that the suspect was arrested in connection with a charge of raping a minor and appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court, where he was remanded in custody. He will reappear in court on Wednesday.
- Daily Sun
0