25 May 2026

 A jailed pastor, Goitsekgosi Mojadigo, has a case to answer, the Mochudi Magistrate Court ruled on May 22.

The pastor, who is facing four counts of defilement before the Mochudi Magistrate Court, had applied through his attorney, Mr Olehile Manchwe, for a no-case-to-answer verdict at the close of the State’s case. He is accused of having had sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of 18.

However, Magistrate Ms Queen Moanga-Leburu ruled otherwise, stating that the accused had something to explain to the court.

“The evidence thus far leaves this court with a few questions that require the accused to answer. The submission fails; the accused is put to his defence,” the magistrate said.

Mojadigo, who is already serving a rape sentence, is alleged to have had sexual intercourse with an underage girl between January and May 2024 at a guest house in Francistown, where his church was holding its end-of-year crossover service, and at his place in Morwa.

The defence team had challenged the credibility of the complainant, who, after making a statement about the intercourse, later deposed an affidavit withdrawing it, before deposing another affidavit reinstating the initial statement.

However, the court noted that the prosecution only had to establish that sexual activity occurred and that the complainant was underage.

Ms Moanga-Leburu said the complainant gave detailed accounts of the sexual activities, and her age had not been disputed by the defence.

Although the complainant later disputed the sexual intercourse, the court found that evidence placed the complainant and the accused at the same locations in Francistown and Morwa, and witnesses testified to the interactions between the two, as they are alleged to have slept in the same room.

“Now the complainant says that during the times she was at these places with the accused, they were having sexual activities,” she added, noting that this, together with witness statements, suggested the likelihood of an offence being committed.

Therefore, Ms Moanga-Leburu said Mojadigo should defend himself against the charges, as the complainant had also alluded to sexual intercourse on four occasions.

On withdrawing the statement and later reinstating it, the Magistrate said the complainant told the court she was coerced to withdraw the charges by the accused, who called her with different numbers from within prison and had promised her P10,000 once the matter was buried.

The State was represented by Ms Seeletsi Ookeditse, while Mojadigo was represented by Mr Manchwe.

The trial of the pastor, who is already serving a sentence for another rape case, will continue on  July 27 for the defence case. ENDS