Pastor’s rape accuser unfazed

DEFENCE: LAWYER AIRS VIDEO SHOWING WITNESS HAPPY

Zondi tells court Omotoso threatened her with death.

Defence attorney Peter Daurbermann, for Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso, aired a video in the Port Elizabeth High Court yesterday depicting witness Cheryl Zondi in high and happy spirits after she rejoined the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church in 2015.

Zondi, 22, testified that she had decided to rejoin the church to “get closure”, and said she wanted an apology from Omotoso, 58, for raping and sexually abusing her.

She earlier told the court that she was promised by other church girls that things had changed. Zondi said she was hopeful that the rape and sexual violation of her body was a thing of the past.

Zondi said when she arrived in Port Elizabeth, she realised that nothing had changed when she came into contact with Omotoso.

At Omotoso’s expense, Zondi said she had travelled to a guesthouse in Port Elizabeth before attending a church service.

While driving to the service Zondi said Omotoso was pressuring her, he wanted a commitment that she would agree to perform sexual acts and return to the church as a member.

“I asked him why is this necessary why do we have to do this.”

Zondi agreed by saying “okay” and expressed she knew she would be raped. She said she could not reject Omotoso because he had threatened that if she were to leave again, the punishment would be double – or even death.

In the video, Zondi is seen at the service crying and expressing her gratitude for the JDI ministry and the “man of God”.

Daubermann told Zondi she was a “good actress” and her demeanour at the service was in contrast to what she had testified in court when she called Omotoso a narcissist.

Zondi retorted that she was only saying positive things out of fear and to please Omotoso.

The televangelist faces 63 main charges and 34 alternative counts which include human trafficking, rape, sexual assault racketeering and conspiracy in aiding another person to commit sexual assault.

Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho are accused of recruiting girls for purposes of sexual exploitation.

Omotoso allegedly trafficked more than 30 girls and women to a house in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, where he allegedly sexually exploited them. – ANA