Apostle Lonwabo Nikolas Tede (52), Vuyolwethu Namba (37) and a 39-year-old male appeared in Zwelitsha Magistrate’s Court for allegations of human trafficking yesterday.
Captain Yolisa Mgolodela, police spokesperson, says during the period between 2005 and 2020, Tede as an apostle in Zion Church in Quzini Village outside King William’s Town was sexually abusing his vulnerable congregants. The apostle misused them in the name of healing those who are sick and providing for the needy, Mgolodela says.
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The matter was reported to the Trafficking in Persons’ Desk of East London based Serious Organised Crime Investigation for probing.
“Investigations revealed allegations of Namba being the middle man in orchestrating the recruitment of would-be victims,” said Mgolodela.
The duo was arrested on 13 November 2021. They were denied bail several times, the last instance being 22 March 2022. They even approached the High Court, but their appeal was dismissed.
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The apostle and his accomplice alledgedly have a new additional 39-year-old suspect who is also implicated.
He is alleged to have been responsible for ensuring that victims were responsible for building the mansion of the apostle without being paid. The appearance of the trio is a further attempt on the bail application.
