Pastor sentenced to two life terms for raping minor girls and threatening that Holy Spirit would kill them if they tell anyone

A 39-year-old pastor, Confidence Monyela, has been sentenced to two life terms and an additional 35 years in prison for raping multiple minor girls aged between 14 and 17 in South Africa. 

The Naphuno Magistrate court handed down the sentence on Thursday, July 31, 2025.

South African Police Service, in a statement at the weekend said Monyela committed the crimes between 2016 and 2017 under the guise of inviting the victims to his church for spiritual sermons. 

He would then pray for them before raping them, threatening that the Holy Spirit would k!ll them if they told anyone.

The victims’ bravery in coming forward led to Monyela’s arrest and subsequent trial. The court found him guilty of six counts, including five counts of rape and one count of s3xual assault.

The sentence includes two life terms for two counts of rape, with additional sentences of 10 years for three other counts of rape and 5 years for sexual assault. 

However, the sentences for counts 3 to 6 will run concurrently with the life imprisonment sentence.

Monyela has also been declared unfit to possess a firearm. 

The case was investigated by Sergeant Klaas Mulungwa of the Tzaneen Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit.

The South African Police Service commended the victims’ courage and the investigating team’s diligent work in securing justice.

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