Rape accused pastor Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho have been found not guilty of all charges.
The case against Nigerian televangelist Pastor Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho is one of South Africa’s most high-profile sexual crimes trials, involving allegations of rape, human trafficking, and racketeering. Below is a detailed breakdown of the case based on available information.
Omotoso was arrested in April 2017 at Port Elizabeth International Airport by South Africa’s elite police unit, the Hawks, while attempting to leave the country .
Initially, he faced 97 charges, including rape, sexual assault, human trafficking, and racketeering. Over time, some charges were dropped due to witnesses withdrawing, leaving 32 remaining charges.
His co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, were alleged accomplices in facilitating the crimes, including grooming victims for exploitation.
Omotoso, the leader of Jesus Dominion International Church, was accused of grooming young female congregants (some as young as 14) under the guise of spiritual guidance, then sexually assaulting them.
Victims testified that he used religious manipulation, quoting scriptures and claiming sexual acts were “God’s will” to coerce compliance.
Some victims were allegedly trafficked between church branches in South Africa and forced into sexual servitude.
The trial drew outrage over the aggressive cross-examination of victims, particularly Cheryl Zondi, who was questioned about intimate details of her assault at age 14. The defense lawyer, Peter Daubermann, faced public backlash for asking, “How many centimetres?” regarding penetration, which the judge deemed inappropriate.
Other witnesses, like ex-Idols SA contestant Neliswa Mxakaza, testified that they were instructed by Sulani to post pro-Omotoso messages on social media to discredit allegations.
The trial faced multiple delays, including a change of judges after the first presiding judge, Mandela Makaula, recused himself in 2019 due to a conflict of interest.
The defense repeatedly sought mistrials, arguing bias and procedural flaws, but these were denied. As of January 2025, the judge expressed shock at the state’s cross-examination tactics, hinting at procedural irregularities