Child Abuse Complaint Filed Against Midrand Pastor Over Conversion Therapy Video

A formal complaint of child abuse and neglect has been laid with the South African Police Service following the circulation of a disturbing video showing a minor child being humiliated and subjected to what appears to be conversion therapy during a church service.

Conversion therapy refers to discredited, ineffective and dangerous practices aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

According to an affidavit submitted to police by human rights defender Norma Mbele, the video features a man identified as Pastor David Uche, also known as Prophet David Uche, who is based in Midrand, Gauteng.

In the video, he is seen engaging with a young child in front of a congregation while mocking the child’s mannerisms and framing them as evidence of spiritual or moral corruption.

The affidavit was made in terms of the Children’s Act 38 of 2005 and was referred to the SAPS Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS).

In her sworn statement, Mbele states: “The contents of the video give rise to a reasonable suspicion of emotional and psychological abuse of a child, as well as possible failure to act in the best interests of the child, which warrants investigation by SAPS and the FCS Unit.”

She further notes that the video was publicly circulated and widely shared. “The public dissemination of the video raises additional child protection concerns, including possible exploitation, humiliation, or continued exposure of the child to harm,” the affidavit reads.

Mockery, Queerphobic Commentary and Spiritual Shaming

The video includes a testimony from an adult woman identified as the child’s mother, who describes concerns about her son’s behaviour, body, and gender expression. In the footage, Pastor Uche responds with laughter and mockery, asking, “He cross his legs like a gay?” and stating, “It’s better to not have a son than to have a Gaybreel,” while members of the congregation laugh and clap.

At several points, the pastor frames the child’s mannerisms as a spiritual affliction, saying, “The devil is turning him into a woman. It’s not a mistake,” and later adding, “That’s the damage the kingdom of darkness does.”

The interaction escalates into a graphic and invasive discussion about the child’s body and genitals, followed by claims that prayer had physically “corrected” the child. The child is filmed responding to questions from the pastor, who asks, “How are you feeling now?” to which the child replies, “I feel better. I started feeling like something is pulling.”

Mbele’s affidavit states that the intervention depicted is “presented as a religious practice intended to change, suppress, or correct the child’s perceived sexual orientation or gender expression.” She adds that such conduct appears “inconsistent with the protections afforded to children under the Children’s Act 38 of 2005.”

Civil Society and Human Rights Groups Respond

Civil society organisations and human rights defenders have reacted with alarm. OUT LGBT Well-Being described the video as deeply disturbing, saying it shows a minor being publicly humiliated and mocked by a religious leader in a space meant to offer care and protection.

“Publicly ridiculing a child for their mannerisms is emotional and psychological abuse,” said OUT LGBT Well-Being Human Rights Coordinator, Sibonele Ncanana Trower. “When this is done by a religious leader, in a space meant to offer care and protection, the harm is severe and lasting.”

Trower also criticised the role of adults present during the service. “It is especially shameful that adults, including the child’s parent, participated in or laughed along with this humiliation,” he said. “Parents and caregivers are meant to be a child’s first line of protection. Too often, they become the first perpetrators or enablers of abuse.”

Human rights defender Sikhander Coopoo, who has lodged a complaint with the Commission for Gender Equality, said the incident meets the recognised definition of conversion therapy.

“This was not prayer. It was a child being publicly broken in the name of God,” Coopoo said. “What we saw was an adult with power telling a child that their identity is sinful and unacceptable. That is not faith. That is psychological violence.”

Coopoo added: “When a child is shamed, coerced, and spiritually terrorised to conform, it meets the recognised definition of conversion therapy, and every credible human rights body agrees that conversion practices cause harm.”

He further warned about the broader implications of inaction. “When the state does not act, it teaches abusers that faith can be used as a shield and teaches queer children that the law will not protect them. This is unacceptable,” he said.

Police Inaction Raises Further Concerns

Mbele has requested that SAPS “register this matter as a Child Abuse and or Child Neglect case,” conduct “an initial risk and safety assessment,” and ensure that the matter is referred to the Department of Social Development for statutory intervention.

However, despite opening a case at Midrand Police Station in December, Mbele says she has still not been provided with a case number. “Since opening the case, I have been sent from pillar to post,” she said. “At times my calls are ignored, and I have received no clear information about whether an investigation is underway.”

MambaOnline Managing Editor Nompilo Gwala also contacted Midrand police to enquire about the status of the case, given the clear public interest involved. After identifying herself as a journalist, Gwala says the policewoman handling the call abruptly dropped the line.

“When I called back to ask why the call had been ended, I was told it was none of my business and that police would only speak to the complainant,” Gwala said. “This is despite the fact that the matter involves a child and material that has been widely circulated in the public domain.”

Pastor Declines to Respond

MambaOnline attempted to contact Pastor David Uche for comment. Emails sent to him received no response. Repeated telephone calls were not answered, and messages sent via Facebook also went unanswered by the time of publication.

As the video continues to circulate online, advocates warn that delays and silence from the authorities risk compounding the harm to the child and sending a chilling message to other queer and gender nonconforming children about their safety and worth.

South African law is clear: “Every child has the right to dignity, safety, and protection from abuse.” Whether that principle will now be enforced remains to be seen.