The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo has reinstated rape charges against popular musician and religious leader Bishop Roxley Masevhe. He is facing four counts of rape and is scheduled to make his first reappearance in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on 29 August. His trial will run from 8 to 12 September 2025, NPA spokesperson Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi confirmed.
The charges were initially provisionally withdrawn in July 2024, with the NPA citing outstanding aspects of its investigation as the reason. At the time, the withdrawal did not mark the end of the matter, and the case was still to be submitted to the director of public prosecutions for a decision. Malabi Dzhangi confirmed that summonses have since been served to Masevhe.
Masevhe was accused of raping a 17-year-old girl, a Grade 12 learner at a local high school. The alleged abuse reportedly began in January 2023 and continued until the girl laid a charge against him in early January 2024. He was arrested soon after, on 8 January, and granted bail of R20,000 a month later by the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court.
The initial withdrawal of the case sparked concern among organisations advocating for the rights of women and children, who viewed it as a potential miscarriage of justice.
The reinstatement was welcomed by organisations supporting the girl. Itani Calvin Nenguda of the Real Man Foundation, which has closely monitored the case, said he was pleased that it was back on the roll. "We are happy that it is back on the roll. It was not an easy road as we constantly engaged with police and the NPA. We felt that justice was not being done for the girl, but finally, justice shall prevail. As an organisation, we are quite disturbed to see men of God allegedly involved in this, as we expect them to lead by example," he said.