Wearing a black hoodie with the words “I have the body of a God” printed in white letters across the front, pastor Sonwabo Nqayi made a brief appearance in the Motherwell Magistrate’s Court today, for the alleged murder of a 12-year-old relative.
Lithaliyanda Ntoni (12) was reported missing after failing to return home from a nearby shop late last month.
Her charred remains was found, three days after her disappearance, in bushes near Khabonqaba Street in Motherwell during the early hours of Friday, June 27.
Today the court heard that Nqayi is facing four charges namely: kidnapping, rape, murder and defeating the ends of justice. Due to the severity of the charges, the State pointed out that it could be classified as a schedule 6 offence.
The case was postponed, for the continuation of a bail application, to Friday 11 July.
Outside court, children, members of civil society, pastors and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe called for justice.
Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the Motherwell Ministers Fraternity Bishop Sibongile Mabhula confirmed to PE Express that the accused is indeed a pastor.
“We were all shocked, we did not know that he could commit this (crime),” she commented outside court. “It was a surprise to us all.”
Accompanied by other pastors, Mabhula said they were supporting the family.
“We are so disappointed because as much as we are pastors, we are also family members, fathers and mothers who know how painful it is to find this happening to one of the kids.
“Whatever the family is going through during this time, we are with them.”
Reverend Leslie Cekiso, who personally knew the accused since he was a young man, said: “What happened really shocked us. We as a Christian body are embarrassed and ashamed, the family must know that we as ministers are against this act.”
