‘We Trusted Him’: Chatsworth Religious Leader Accused of Repeatedly Raping 12-Year-Old Boy Applies for Bail

The 54-year-old suspect, previously convicted of rape, faces fresh charges that have rocked the Durban suburb’s faith community

The tight-knit community of Chatsworth is reeling after fresh rape allegations emerged against a local religious figure ,this time involving a 12-year-old boy. On Tuesday morning, the 54-year-old man is expected to apply for bail in the Chatsworth Regional Court, reigniting public outrage in a suburb already grappling with deep mistrust in faith leaders.

Court proceedings are expected to begin after 11 am. The suspect, who cannot be named until he enters a plea due to the nature of the charges, was arrested in March 2025.

According to the charge sheet, the sexual assaults allegedly took place several times throughout 2024, with the most recent incident occurring in February this year. The boy, whose identity is protected, was reportedly known to the accused through a local place of worship.

Allegations Too Familiar for Chatsworth

The accused is not new to the justice system. Court records confirm that he was previously convicted of rape but received a suspended sentence, a legal decision that now haunts the victim’s family and community members.

“It feels like the system gave him a second chance, and he used it to prey on another child,” said a resident outside the court, who asked not to be named. “This is not just about one man, it’s about how religious spaces have failed to protect the vulnerable.”

The charges come less than a year after another high-profile case in Chatsworth involving a different church leader. That man was accused of raping a 14-year-old girl in his youth group. Although charges were provisionally withdrawn, the Hawks (Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation) had arrested him after receiving serious complaints.

Communities of Faith Under Fire

Chatsworth, a predominantly Indian and Coloured suburb south of Durban, is no stranger to religious and cultural institutions that play a central role in daily life. Temples, mosques, churches, and spiritual centres are often more than places of worship, they’re spaces for support, mentorship, and tradition.

But when those spaces are corrupted, the trauma cuts deeper.

Many on social media expressed disbelief, anger, and a growing sense of betrayal. “Why are our children not safe in the very places we tell them to trust?” wrote one X (formerly Twitter) user under the hashtag #ChatsworthChurchScandal. Others called for national legislation requiring stricter vetting of religious leaders who work with minors.

A Bail Decision That Could Spark More Outrage

The prosecution is expected to oppose bail, citing the severity of the alleged crimes, the accused’s prior rape conviction, and the risk of reoffending. Community safety concerns are front and centre.

“There is a deep fear that if he is released, other victims may never come forward,” said a Durban-based child rights advocate. “We’ve seen this pattern before — predators return to their positions, protected by silence and culture.”

Child protection organisations are already calling for a full investigation into the religious organisation involved and whether they took appropriate steps after the allegations surfaced.

A Call for Accountability Beyond the Courtroom

This case raises urgent questions: Why was a convicted rapist allowed to continue as a spiritual figure? What kind of support structures are in place for victims of abuse in religious settings? And will communities finally challenge the toxic silence that often surrounds such crimes?

For many in Chatsworth, justice is about more than a court ruling, it’s about protecting children from people they were taught to revere.

As the bail application unfolds, parents, activists, and spiritual leaders alike are watching closely. Not just for the outcome, but for what it will say about how South Africa treats its most vulnerable and how much longer the veil of silence around abuse in religious spaces will be allowed to hold.

{Source: IOL}

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