Tagged:

'State Failed to Prove Case' Against Rape-Accused Nigerian Pastor

In her ruling on the morning of April 2, Judge Irma Schoeman said South Africa's prosecutors had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In October 2018, the first witness in the Timothy Omotoso trial testified that up to 30 women were given nicknames and referred to as "wives". Cheryl Zondi was the first of a list of more than 40 witnesses who gave evidence.

South Africa: 'State Failed to Prove Case' as Nigerian Pastor, South African Co-Accused Walk Free on 30 Rape Charges

allAfrica, 2 April 2025

Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho have been found not guilty on all charges. The verdict comes eight years after the accused were… Read more »
South Africa: 'Omotoso's Acquittal Proves South Africa's Witch Hunt Against Foreign Preachers'

Nyasa Times, 2 April 2025

Prophet Shepherd Bushiri has declared televangelist Timothy Omotoso's acquittal on 32 criminal charges as evidence of systemic persecution against foreign religious leaders in… Read more »
Nigeria: Nigerian Pastor Accused of Rape in South Africa Loses Bid to Stop Evidence

Premium Times, 30 August 2024

The Nigerian pastor and his female assistants, Lusanda Sulani, 41, and Zikiswa Sitho, 33, were arrested in April 2017 over allegations of rape and trafficking. Read more »
South Africa: Rape Accused Pastor Omotoso and Co-Accused to Learn Fate in April

SAnews.gov.za, 23 January 2025

The racketeering, trafficking in persons, rape, and sexual assault case against controversial televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zikiswa… Read more »

InFocus

South African Constitutional Court to Hear Omotoso Rape Case?

Pastor Timothy Omotoso's legal team has said that they are ready to approach the Constitutional Court after the Supreme Court of Appeal dismissed advocate Peter Daubermann's application to have Judge Mandela Makaula recuse himself from the case. Omotoso and his two co-accused, Zukiswa Sitho and Lusanda Sulani, face a total of 97 charges related to human trafficking and rape.
Read more »
- South Africa: Omotoso's Lawyers Preparing to Go to Concourt
- South Africa: SCA Dismisses Omotoso's Bid to Have Judge Recuse Himself - Trial to Go Ahead
Judge Delays Omotoso Trial, Rejects Bid to Appeal Recusal Ruling

Judge Mandela Makaula was issued a request by defence advocate Peter Daubermann to recuse himself from the case against Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso. Daubermann questioned Makaula's impartiality after the judge wished witness Cheryl Zondi good luck in her exams. Daubermann added that Omotoso could not trust face a fair trial if Makaula continued to preside over the case. Omotoso and his two co-accused, Zukiswa Sitho and Lusanda Sulani, face a total of 97 charges related to human trafficking
Read more »
- South Africa: Omotoso Trial - Judge Rejects Bid to Appeal Ruling Over Whether He Should Recuse Himself
Cheryl Zondi Details Escape from Pastor Omotoso's House

Cheryl Zondi, the first witness in the case against Timothy Omotoso, has testified that she used R300 given to her by the Nigerian pastor to do her hair as means to enable her escape from his compund where she and 30 other women were forced to live as sex slaves. Zondi told the court: "I was tired of pleasing this man. He was harassing me non-stop about not pleasing him sexually. He wanted to feel wanted by a teenager. He would rebuke me." Omotoso and his two co-accused, Zukiswa Sitho and
Read more »
- South Africa: Omotoso Trial - Cheryl Zondi's Proud Father Speaks
New Trial for Omotoso After South African Judge's Recusal?

The trial against controversial pastor Timothy Omotoso may have to start afresh following the recusal of Judge Mandela Makaula from the matter, writes The Citizen. This comes after Omotoso's lawyer Peter Daubermann previously pushed for the recusal of Makaula, claiming the judge was "biased" following the testimony of the first witness, Cheryl Zondi.
Read more »
- South Africa: Judge Recuses Himself From Omotoso Rape Trial, Matter Postponed to July
- South Africa: Omotoso Trial - This Is What Happens When a Judge Is Recused
Nigerian Pastor Omotoso Made Women Perform 'Horrible Sex Acts'

Cheryl Zondi, the first witness in the rape trial of pastor Timothy Omotoso, has testified that she, along with 30 other women, were given nicknames, referred to as "wives" and forced to live as sex slaves at the pastor's house in Umhlanga Rocks, north of Durban. Omotoso and his two co-accused, Zukiswa Sitho and Lusanda Sulani, face a total of 97 charges related to human trafficking and rape.
Read more »
- South Africa: Nigerian Pastor Omotoso Made Women Perform 'Horrible Sex Acts' - Witness
We Were At Pastor Omotoso's Mercy, South African Court Hears

The first witness in the Timothy Omotoso trial says up to 30 girls were given nicknames and referred to as "wives" when they stayed in the rape-accused pastor's Umhlanga Rocks house in Durban. Cheryl Zondi was the first of a list of 49 witnesses who are expected to be called to give evidence on the alleged sordid sex life of the Nigerian televangelist.
Read more »
- South Africa: 'We Would Be At His Mercy' - Witness On Living in Rape-Accused Omotoso's House
- Resource Document First Witness in the Omotoso Trial Gives Explosive Testimony