A father partially castrated a preacher he believed had carried out a sex attack on his nine-year-old daughter, a court in South Africa heard.

Preacher Mase Malgas, 66, died after being attacked on September 30 by the girl's father, the East London courtroom was told.

Constable Lundi Nqwelo was called as a witness by the state prosecutors and testified that the defendant had been told by his ex-wife that their daughter had been raped, and that Mr Malgas was the perpetrator.

The defendant, his ex-wife and a friend of the couple then tracked down Mr Malgas, who was based at St Philips Church in Gompo, and burst into his home intent on revenge, the court heard.

Preacher Mase Malgas, 66, died from the injuries inflicted on him on September 30 by the girl's father. He was based at St Philips Church in Gompo (pictured)

Nqwelo said the accused, who cannot be named as it would also reveal his daughter's identity, then severely beat Mr Malgas and attempted to sever the preacher’s penis.

He did not complete the castration, but left the man with 'grievous' wounds, the court heard.

The trio then escorted him, by now in a life-threatening condition, to the Scenery Park Police Station, where they hoped he would be arrested.

East London police officers immediately called for medical assistance, but Mr Malgas died in hospital.

It has not yet been established whether Mr Malgas was the perpetrator, but medical reports confirmed that the defendant's daughter had been raped, Nqwelo said.

The accused was denied bail and sent to a cell yesterday ahead of the resumption of his trial, in a case which has split the East London community and sparked an emotional debate on vigilante justice, The South African reported.

The defendant was denied bail yesterday after East London bail magistrate Joel Caesar said the court could not sanction vigilante justice. The trial will resume at a later date

The courts are waiting on DNA evidence which will prove pivotal in the case. If the preacher is found to be guilty, the defence case will be strengthened.

East London bail magistrate Joel Caesar said the suspect was denied bail because the court cannot sanction vigilante justice, although he expressed sympathy with the daughter.

The trial will resume at a later date.