WhatsApp messages, massages and gifts: Inside Katlehong pastor’s rape trial

WhatsApp messages, massage sessions and gifts bought for victims featured prominently during the cross-examination of Arise and Shine leader Benjamin Dingiso on Tuesday. 

Dingiso, 51, is facing 31 counts of rape, sexual grooming of children, sexual assault and attempted rape of several boys who were part of his church.

The incidents were alleged to have occurred between 2019 and 2021, when he claimed to have encountered several church members whom he had to spiritually and emotionally counsel. 

One of the eight boys he is alleged to have sexually assaulted, who joined the church in 2014 at the age of 14, left for nine months but later returned to the church.

It emerged from WhatsApp messages read at the Johannesburg high court on Tuesday that the victim, who had an agreement which included having “a close relationship that did not include lust”, called him his king.

In one conversation, the boy texted Dingiso saying he was “sorry, my king”.

The pastor replied by asking if his bestie loved him. 

“Yes, I do love you, my king,” the boy replied.

The pastor replied by thanking him and asking: “Why do you limit me around you?”

When asked in court about the WhatsApp conversations and how the boy “limited” him, Dingiso said they should have been talking and meeting more often.

“It is better if you say it straight my king, so I give you a clear answer as well,” replied the boy in the exchange.

The pastor said he wanted to have him the way he wanted. 

The boy then texted back that he had already accepted him and allowed him to have his “piece” and the pastor had said a relationship was all about sacrifices. 

“I was accepting what you offered to me as new as it was, as much as I didn't like it I learnt to like it and do it to make you happy and you said I shouldn't do any favour for you. I made sure again that I become happy so that it may be a mutual relationship, not submissive. Whether there are bosses and employees I have my limits because I had already given you what was beyond my capability around not planning to exceed the limitations,” the boy said.

“At times, I do try to become a little bit over the limit but will a relationship be if one is doing what makes him cry while he gets home at night which was being sad, my king? I love you, I appreciate you, I appreciate all you do for me in the name of love.”

Dingiso told the court he didn't have a comment when he was asked about the message from the boy.

When the state concluded its cross-examination it indicated Dingiso was evasive, couldn't answer questions, indicated he couldn't remember and kept changing versions of his story. 

The state put it to him that all eight victims had testified in court but Dingiso's version changed, starting from the police station to the Palm Ridge magistrate's court when he was applying for bail, and he refuted some aspects said by his legal counsel when he cross-examined the witnesses. 

“When you took the stand there are totally different versions you gave this court. I put it to you that you groom them, you introduce massage, you introduce kissing, and it escalated to messages and sexual penetration,” said prosecutor advocate Tshimangadzo Mbodi. 

Dingiso denied all the accusations against him but didn't dispute that he gave financial aid to the boys. He said he didn't do it to manipulate the victims.

“I helped most of the people. I cannot use financial help to gain something. I didn't only help the boys, I also helped the girls and even extended a helping hand to other people in church who were in need,” he said.

Dingiso's defence is expected to call a witness and hand in the document from the church detailing duties the trainee prophets had to do when the trial continues on Wednesday. 

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