KROONSTAD – Forensic DNA results have led to the conviction and sentencing of a Kroonstad pastor to life imprisonment for raping a minor. The accused, Hendrick Zamani Tana (43), was positively linked to the crime, despite his initial denial of raping the victim.
The Kroonstad Regional Court sentenced Tana on 19 November based on compelling DNA evidence and the testimony of the victim. The court ordered that Tana’s name be placed on the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO) and it also declared him unfit to possess a firearm.
The victim, then 11 years old, is the daughter of a member of the convicted Tana’s church. Tana raped the victim during September 2022.
Mojalefa Senokoatsane, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa in the Free State, said that during the trial, the court heard that the accused was the pastor of the complainant’s mother and that he frequently visited the home of the victim.
The victim regarded him as a father and a family friend.
He said the victim testified in camera that on the date of the incident, the accused knew that her mother was at work. Despite knowing that the victim’s mother was not present, Tana went to their house and found her alone. The victim testified that upon entering their home, the accused closed the door, then grabbed her, and began raping her.
“The victim later reported the matter to her mother, and the police were called to the scene. The victim was brave enough to show the police the accused’s semen on the floor, where the accused had tried to wipe it.
“The DNA results collected from the mat matched those of the accused Tana,” said Senokoatsane.
“The accused’s account in court was that he did not penetrate the victim, but he was playing with his private parts while looking at the complainant, which is why his semen ended up on the floor mat.
“During cross-examination, state prosecutor Choluhelo Tlhaloane questioned him to challenge his version, and the accused eventually broke down and admitted that he did rape her,” said Senokoatsane.
He said the court had found the accused guilty and proceeded to sentencing. The state submitted the victim impact statement compiled by the mother with the assistance of the court preparation officer.
“The NPA once again reaffirms its unwavering commitment to fighting the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), particularly crimes committed against vulnerable groups such as women and children.
“This life sentence sends a strong and unmistakable message that those who exploit positions of trust, whether as religious leaders, community figures, or family acquaintances, will face the full might of the law.
“Those who misuse their positions to prey on the very people who look up to them for guidance and protection are a danger to society and will not be spared from prosecution,” said Senokoatsane.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Free State has welcomed the sentence handed down.
