Defence lawyer Peter Daubermann, who is representing Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, came down hard on Cheryl Zondi during cross-examination on Wednesday.Â
Daubermann told the Gqeberha High Court that Zondi’s statements were not consistent, saying Zondi had made a statement that Omotoso did not penetrate her.
However, said the defence lawyer, she changed her statement in court and said there was penetration.
“Why are you giving the court a statement that is different from all your statements?” asked Daubermann.
“Nowhere in your statements did you say there was penetration, and [now] you are telling the court a different story.”
Zondo explained that perhaps the reason why the penetration was not recorded in her statements was because she had stated that there was only slight penetration.
Daubermann said if that was a part of the sexual assault, it was supposed to be written. He asked why Zondi left the church after the alleged rape but returned a few years later.
According to Zondi, she joined the church when she was 14. She went back because she missed fellowship and singing in a church choir.
“Why did you go back?” asked Daubermann.
“You knew that by going back you’re subjecting yourself to the same sexual assault.”
Zondi replied: “Omotoso was connected to police officers and I feared that he would destroy my life because he said what was happening between us was a covenant with God.
“He said if I broke the covenant by telling people [what happened], my life would be stagnant and I could die.”
Zondi detailed in her testimony that she would be called to the pastor’s bedroom and ordered to perform oral sex and massage the pastor.
When she was done, said Zondi, Omotoso would tell her to leave and clean herself up while he stayed back in the room praying.
Omotoso, the founder of Jesus Dominion International Church, and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho face 62 charges including racketeering, human trafficking, rape, and sexual assault.
His church had major branches in South Africa, Nigeria and Israel, with Durban being the headquarters in the country.
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