Thohoyandou – A 37-year-old self-proclaimed prophet, Innocent Muritho, was denied bail by the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court today for allegedly raping a minor girl aged 14 in the church’s office.
Muritho, whose real name is Phathutshedzo Sikhubu, committed an offence while out on bail.
The court heard that on July 9, 2025, the self-proclaimed prophet Muritho called the teenager to meet him at the church building located in Sibasa town. On her arrival, she was called into the prophet’s office, where he allegedly raped her. The victim reported the incident to her family members, and the alleged perpetrator was arrested.
The NPA Regional Spokesperson for the Limpopo Division, Mashudu Malabi – Dzhangi said it was not the first time the prophet committed cases like that.
Malabi – Dzhangi said on the 10th of April 2024, a 20-year-old church member was a victim of the same Prophet’s house at Tswinga village outside Thohoyandou as part of a social gathering initiative with her friends.
“It is alleged that the victim requested to use the bathroom and was shown where to go. The accused followed her to the bathroom and allegedly forced her to the main bedroom and raped her. The victim reported the incident on the following day, on 11 April 2024, and the accused was arrested,” said Malabi – Dzhangi.
“The court denied him bail due to the reasons that he is facing Schedule 6 offence, he did not prove any exceptional circumstances for him to be released, he is out on bail of R2000.00 in Cape Town Magistrate’s Court wherein his trial is scheduled for 03 September 2025.
While out on bail, he committed an offence. The court said it would not be in the interest of justice to release him on bail as that would continue to erode society’s trust in the administration of justice. The accused has a previous conviction of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm that happened in 2011, wherein he paid admission of a guilty fine which he did not disclose,” she said.
“The matter was postponed to October 14, 2025 for further investigations. The accused remains in custody,” Malabi-Dzhangi concluded.
