Priest held for rape

Priest held for rape
07/10/2004 14:01 - (SA)

Bloemfontein - A priest was arrested after 16 girls alleged they were raped by him at his mission in Hlohlolwane, Clocolan, Free State police said on Thursday.

Captain Veronica Ntepe said the girls reported the rape to their principal on Wednesday. The principal contacted the police and the priest was arrested.

In an incident in March 2004, a 14-year-old girl alleged she was raped by the priest in his bedroom after he showed her a pornographic video.

The next day the girl, who slept at the mission with her parents' permission, was allegedly given R20, sent home, and told not to tell anyone about the incident.

But she told her mother, who took her for a medical examination.

Ntepe said the mother did not report the matter to the police.

In September this year a 13-year-old girl visited the mission to look for a friend. The priest allegedly asked her to go to his room. He ordered her to undress and raped her.

She was allegedly also given R20 to keep quiet.

Ntepe said the 40-year-old priest would appear in the Clocolan magistrate's court on Monday