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A father partially castrated a preacher he believed had raped his nine-year-old daughter in South Africa. The partial castration led to the preachers death.
The 66-year-old preacher, Mase Malgas, died after being attacked on September 30 by the girl’s father, the East London courtroom was told.
Constable Lundi Nqwelo was called as a witness by the state prosecutors and testified that the defendant had been told by his ex-wife that their daughter had been raped, and that Mr Malgas was the perpetrator.
The defendant, his ex-wife and a friend of the couple then went to the preacher based at St Philips Church in Gompo to revenge, the court heard.
Nqwelo said the accused, who cannot be named as it would also reveal his daughter’s identity, then severely beat Mr Malgas and attempted to sever the preacher’s penis.
He did not complete the castration, but left the man with grievous wounds, the court heard.
The preacher was escorted by the trio in a life threatening condition to police station, where they hoped he would be arrested.
East London police officers immediately called for medical assistance, but Mr Malgas died in hospital.
It has not yet been established whether Mr Malgas was the perpetrator, but medical reports confirmed that the defendant’s daughter had been raped, Nqwelo said.
The accused was denied bail and sent to a cell yesterday ahead of the resumption of his trial, in a case which has split the East London community and sparked an emotional debate on vigilante justice, The South African reported.
The courts are waiting on DNA evidence which will prove pivotal in the case. If the preacher is found to be guilty, the defence case will be strengthened.
Joel Caesar, East London bail magistrate said the suspect was denied bail because the court cannot sanction vigilante justice, although he expressed sympathy with the daughter.
The trial will resume at a later date.