Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae expressed concern about the growing number of churches in the province, warning that some may house sexual predators.
Premier spoke at the opening of the Phuthaditjhaba Thuthuzela Care Centre at Elizabeth Ross Hospital in Qwaqwa on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. This facility will assist victims of gender-based violence and femicide, as well as those who have experienced sexual violence, helping them to file charges and receive psychosocial support. Premier Letsoha-Mathae was joined by Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Andries Nel and the National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Shamila Batohi.
During her address, Premier Letsoha-Mathae appealed to traditional leaders, ward councillors, and community members to be vigilant against individuals who claim to be servants of the Lord while preying on the weak and vulnerable.
“We face a challenge with many people coming into our areas and establishing what they call churches. With the Easter holidays approaching, I can almost guarantee that we will see tents erected in our communities. We must find out who these individuals are and where they come from. Many of them are responsible for the abuse of women and children, and we must protect our community from such people,” warned Premier Letsoha-Mathae.
Morena Mopeli voiced his concern about the troubling phenomenon of “sugar daddies and sugar mamas” who exploit young children. He highlighted that children are being impregnated by older men, while older women are targeting younger men, commonly referred to as “Ben 10s.”
He noted that it is critical to address this issue. Furthermore, he pointed out that those with financial resources often bribe victims’ families not to report cases of abuse, which adds to the problem. Advocate Shamila Batohi mentioned the recent acquittal of Tim Omotoso, who faced multiple charges, including rape, noting that the verdict left many South Africans “stunned.”
“We will leave no stone unturned to determine what led to the outcome of the case. We have formed a team to assess the chances of a successful appeal.” said Bathohi.
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