ZCC pastor fired for sexual assault of a disabled girl [18]

A ZCC Pastor [64] was stripped of his pastoral position and permanently barred from holding any leadership role in the church after being sentenced for sexually assaulting a disabled girl [18].

The pastor identified as Mochandeni Samuel Sebela was attached to one of the branches in Phalaborwa, Mopani in November 2022.

ALSO READ: ZCC employee killed in workplace accident

Sebela was initially charged with rape; however, he was convicted of sexual assault. According to ZCC spokesperson Moatshe Ngoepe, Sebela was immediately summoned before the church’s internal disciplinary hearing, where his conduct was thoroughly examined in light of the church’s spiritual and ethical standards.

The church says it is still reviewing his membership in the Church because they view the incident in a very serious light.

ALSO READ: Man claiming to be son of ZCC leader demands DNA test

“This decisive action was taken not only to uphold the integrity of our Church but also to send a strong and unequivocal message to the rest of our congregants that such reprehensible behaviour will never be tolerated within our ranks,” said Ngoepe.

“By enforcing this sanction, the church seeks to serve as a deterrent to anyone who might contemplate perpetuating acts of violence, abuse, or exploitation, reaffirming our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the dignity and well-being of all members of society.”