Church leader sentenced to two years for flashing

RUSTENBURG – The Regional Court in Rustenburg has recently sentenced a 36-year-old Zoliswa Menziwa to two years imprisonment for contravention of Section 22 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007 (Act No. 32 of 2007).

The accused sentencing emanated from an incident wherein she was found with other five congregants who were naked together with eleven children in a house that was used as a church at Sondela Phase 1, Boitekong outside Rustenburg, on Wednesday, 01 June 2022. The convict was the only individual who was found clothed at the time and she was allegedly the church leader. Subsequent to preliminary investigations, all children between the ages of four to twelve; six boys and five girls, were removed from the house and handed to social workers for intervention, and ultimately placed under the care of other family members.

The case was then allocated to Rustenburg Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit for further investigation. Subsequent to thorough investigations conducted by the Unit Commander, Colonel Mosidi Mafora and Warrant Officer Phiri Mfetane, the accused was found guilty as charged while the other five accused were acquitted. Menziwa was sentenced to two (2) years imprisonment which is wholly suspended for a period of five (5) years on condition that she is not convicted of the same charge during the period of suspension.

The North West Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena welcomed the sentencing of the accused. He added that the SAPS remains committed to fight crimes against women and children. He said defending the vulnerable will always remain a priority for the men and women in blue in the Province. He also lauded the Investigating Team for the sterling job in ensuring that perpetrators of this kind of crimes face the full might of the law.