Court hands suspended sentence to Rustenburg church leader after shocking incident involving children

Court hands suspended sentence to Rustenburg church leader after shocking incident involving children

A case that sent shockwaves through the Boitekong community has ended with a suspended prison sentence for a woman described as a church leader, following a deeply disturbing incident involving children.

The Rustenburg Regional Court has sentenced 36-year-old Zoliswa Menziwa to two years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, after finding her guilty of contravening South Africa’s Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act.

What police found inside the house

The conviction stems from events on 1 June 2022, when police responded to reports at a house being used as a church in Sondela Phase 1, Boitekong, outside Rustenburg.

Inside, officers found five adults and 11 children naked. Menziwa was the only adult who was clothed and was allegedly leading the church gathering at the time.

The children six boys and five girls between the ages of four and 12 were immediately removed from the house and placed under the care of social workers. They were later reunited with their families.

For many residents in Rustenburg, the incident raised uncomfortable questions about unregulated religious spaces operating from private homes a practice that has quietly grown in townships across the province.

A case centred on children’s safety

The matter was taken over by the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, which conducted further investigations. While five other adults were ultimately acquitted, the court found Menziwa guilty based on the evidence presented.

In handing down sentence, the court ruled that the prison term would be suspended on condition that Menziwa is not convicted of a similar offence during the five-year suspension period.

Although no further details were given in court about the nature of the church’s practices, child protection groups have since pointed to the case as a reminder of how easily children can be placed at risk in environments where authority goes unchecked.

Public reaction and official response

News of the sentencing has sparked strong reactions on social media, with many users expressing frustration that no direct jail time was imposed, while others welcomed the conviction itself as a rare moment of accountability.

North West provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the outcome, reaffirming the SAPS commitment to fighting crimes against women and children.

He also commended investigators for pursuing justice in a case involving vulnerable victims an area where communities often feel the system falls short.

A wider conversation for communities

Beyond the courtroom, the case has reopened broader conversations in Rustenburg about child safety, community oversight, and the responsibility of adults in positions of trust.

While the legal process has concluded, the incident continues to linger as a stark reminder: protecting children requires vigilance not only from police and courts, but from communities themselves.