The Thohoyandou Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS Unit), together with the Levubu police, have launched a manhunt for a pastor following the alleged rape of two minor children, a boy and a girl, both aged 8.
The rapes are alleged to have taken place on church premises at Mutsha Khwekhwe in April and May 2026 respectively. The children were allegedly lured to the church by the pastor with offers of snacks and money.
Vhembe SAPS spokesperson Captain Vuledzani Dathi confirmed the rapes and said that police had launched a manhunt for the pastor, who has since gone into hiding.
Dathi said the rapes came to light after the grandmother of the victims noticed some strange behaviour by the children and enquired about it. The boy then opened up and told her that he had been raped. It was subsequently established that the girl had also been raped in May.
The grandmother took the two children to the local clinic, where it was apparently confirmed that they had been raped.
Dathi appealed to anyone with information to come forward and share it with the investigating officer, Sgt Elijah Mabasa, on 082 351 5219. He also appealed to the pastor, who is known to them, to hand himself over to assist with police investigations.