The trial of a Nigerian televangelist accused of sex trafficking in South Africa has been postponed to December. South African -based pastor Timothy Omotoso and two women are facing a string of charges including rape, racketeering and sexual assault.
The trial has been postponed to 10 December for the defence to approach the Supreme Court of Appeal.
This comes after a defence application for judge Mandela Makaula to recuse himself was dismissed.
Makaula has also refused leave to appeal the charge sheet application after the defence told the court it questioned the charges against Omotoso.
The judge has ruled the application for him to recuse himself from the trial had no merit.
Meanwhile, the South African Council of Churches has slammed the treatment of Cheryl Zondi during her testimony in the Timothy Omotoso trial.
During Zondi’s harrowing three-day testimony in the Port Elizabeth High Court‚ Judge Mandela Makaula had to reprimand Omotoso’s legal counsel‚ Peter Daubermann‚ on several occasions because of the nature of questions he put to Zondi‚ 22.
“The manner in which the victim‚ young and courageous Cheryl Zondi‚ was traumatised during a cross-examination that was reminiscent of the apartheid security branch interrogation‚ left many aghast and with serious questions about the conduct of the judicial system‚” said Bishop Malusi Mpumelwa‚ general secretary of the South African Council of Churches.
At one stage Makaula stopped Daubermann from questioning Zondi about how far Omotoso had penetrated her when he raped her when she 14.
“Cheryl Zondi’s heroism is outstandingly remarkable and very few would have survived that frightful Omotoso defence.”
During the meeting‚ various church leaders and stakeholders discussed the issue of sexual assault in the church.
“This is not a new issue since we were all children in the church when these issues were being swept under the carpet. We need to stand our ground and start protecting ourselves from each other‚” said Pastor Nompumelelo Msimang.
The council of churches also distanced itself from Omotoso‚ 60‚ who together with his co-accused‚ Lusanda Sulani‚ 36‚ and Zukiswa Sitho‚ 28‚ are facing 97 charges ranging from sexual assault to rape and human trafficking.
