The leader of the Seven Angels Ministries Banele Mancoba is expected to appear in the Ngcobo Magistrate’s Court today to face charges of rape, sexual grooming and sexual exploitation. The Star reports this follows investigation by the Hawks, and the SAPS’ detectives unit and Crime Intelligence.

During the investigation, police rescued more than 100 women and children from Mancoba’s property in Nyanga Village, Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, a fortnight ago.

According to the National Police Commissioner, Mancoba kept some of the women as sex slaves. A Hawks spokesperson in the Eastern Cape has confirmed police were investigating possible charges of human trafficking against the church. She said the Hawks were investigating if there were ‘elements of human trafficking’ in the case because police rescued young mothers from the church. She added the investigating unit was trying to establish how old the young mothers were when they gave birth to their children.

Full report in The Star (subscription needed)