NPA
1Min
South Africa
Nov 3, 2025
A self-proclaimed pastor, Sabata Mariti, has been sentenced to 55 years in prison for raping three young members of his church during an overnight prayer session in Virginia, Free State. The case adds to growing concerns over abuse in religious institutions, prompting renewed calls for tighter regulation by the CRL Commission.
The Virginia Regional Court in the Free State has sentenced self-proclaimed pastor Sabata Mariti to 55 years imprisonment for raping three young girls who were members of his church, the Team of Prophecy.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mariti committed the crimes during an overnight prayer session in July 2022. He lured the victims, aged 15, 17, and 23, to his bedroom under the pretext of recording a TikTok video. He then raped them successively despite their pleas to stop and threatened that their families would die if they spoke out.
One mother discovered incriminating messages on her daughter’s phone and alerted the police, while another victim later came forward. The court heard evidence including medical reports and WhatsApp messages linking Mariti to the crimes.
Mariti denied the charges and claimed that members of the ANC Women’s League had conspired against him, but the court rejected his version. Prosecutor Marelize Nel argued that Mariti used his spiritual authority to exploit vulnerable young women. Nel told the court that he showed no remorse and described the assaults as “humiliating, degrading, brutal invasions.”
A Victim Impact Statement revealed that one survivor had attempted suicide. The presiding magistrate condemned Mariti’s conduct as a gross abuse of trust and faith. He was sentenced to 20 years for the first count, 15 years for the second, and 20 years for the third, effectively totalling 55 years.
Regional Control Prosecutor Charmaine Labuschagne praised the victims for their courage, saying they stood firm despite intimidation. “The accused’s control was chilling; some initially lied to protect him,” she said.
Free State NPA spokesperson Mojalefa Senokoatsane said the NPA welcomed the outcome. “Sexual violence strips victims of dignity and privacy. No one hides behind faith. The NPA stands with survivors,” he said.
The sentencing was delivered on Monday, 03 November 2025.
Over the years, the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission) has investigated several high-profile cases involving religious abuse. These include the KwaSizabantu Mission in KwaZulu-Natal, where members alleged sexual assault and psychological abuse, and the Bishop Bafana Stephen Zondo case, where the Rivers of Living Waters Ministries leader faced multiple sexual abuse allegations.
The Commission also led a national inquiry into the commercialisation of religion and abuse of belief systems, uncovering cases of pastors instructing congregants to eat grass, drink fuel, or be sprayed with insecticide in the name of faith.
The CRL Commission is an independent Chapter 9 institution established under the South African Constitution. It is mandated to promote and protect the rights of cultural, religious and linguistic communities and to ensure that these groups live in harmony while practising their beliefs freely.
The Commission conducts investigations, public hearings and research into abuses of faith, exploitation in religious institutions and violations of community rights, and makes recommendations to Parliament and government for corrective action.
