Scores of residents and community organisations in Vhembe gathered outside the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court, singing and dancing, during the bail hearing of controversial Sibasa prophet and rape accused Phathutshedzo Sikhubu (37).
Sikhubu, better known as Prophet Muritho or Ritha, appeared in court on 21 August, where his bail application was denied. He had been applying for bail over the past three weeks.
He stands accused of raping a 14-year-old girl at his church in Sibasa on 9 July 2025. His bail application, submitted in the form of an affidavit, began on 5 August 2025 and concluded on 21 August 2025. In the affidavit, Muritho argued that he was not a flight risk and was a suitable candidate for bail.
The state opposed bail from the outset, calling the investigating officer to testify that the prophet was not a suitable candidate for release. The officer also referred to a previous rape case on 10 April 2024, in which a 20-year-old woman was allegedly raped at Muritho's Tswinga home, and testified that he should not be granted bail.
The court denied bail, citing that Sikhubu faced a Schedule 6 offence and had not demonstrated exceptional circumstances to warrant release. It was further noted that he was already out on bail of R2,000 in Cape Town Magistrate's Court, where his trial is scheduled for 1–3 September 2025, and that he had committed an offence while on bail.
The court stated that releasing him would not be in the interest of justice and could erode public trust in the justice system. It also noted that the accused had a previous 2011 conviction for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, for which he paid a fine but did not disclose the conviction during the proceedings.
Sikhubu was remanded in custody, and his case was postponed to 14 October. Besides the two Vhembe rape cases, he also faces a pending rape case in Cape Town.
Outside the court, scores of residents who had come to support the victim's family rejoiced at the news that bail had been denied.
Mr Fhatuwani Manthada of the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Programme welcomed the decision. "We are excited by the outcome of the application. This is not a personal matter between us and the accused, but we have consistently called for justice to prevail. The fact that the accused was out on bail when he allegedly committed two other offences is deeply disturbing. This decision will help restore the community's trust in the justice system," he said.