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	Church Probed after Young Girls Made to Marry By Bongani Fuzile Weekend Post December 1, 2009 http://www.weekendpost.co.za/article.aspx?id=504678 POLICE are investigating the activities of a Dimbaza-based church after two under-age members were rescued from forced marriages in the last week. The two girls, aged 13 and 15, both claimed that the Gospel of God church forced them to get married at a young age. A senior church leader denied the allegations yesterday, but suggested child brides were acceptable in society. “It’s an individual’s choice to get married at what age she wants to. We don’t force anyone in our church, but this is a disgrace that we will investigate,” said John Sibanda. King William’s Town police spokesman Captain Thozama Solani said: “We are investigating what is happening in this church after we’ve listened to the teenagers. There are many questions the leaders need to answer. This is child abuse. They should have stopped these marriages.” On Saturday, it was reported how the younger of the two victims was allegedly sold by her aunt to a Zimbabwean man and forced to “marry” him. She escaped from her captors – who allegedly included her “husband’s” parents – last Wednesday and raised the alarm. Four suspects – her aunt, her husband and her “in-laws” – were then arrested in Phola Park township and appeared in the Dimbaza Magistrate’s Court yesterday. They were denied bail and will reappear on December 17 to face charges of kidnapping. Her “husband” faces an additional charge of sexual assault. After her escape, the teen who had fled told police about the 15-year-old girl. Solani said officers found the girl alone at a house in Phola Park.Her alleged abductor is believed to be in Cape Town. Yesterday, it emerged the older of the girls gave birth to a girl in August. – Daily Dispatch
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