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Despite the legal outcome, the women who stood up against Omotoso said they are not backing down.
Cheryl Zondi, one of the key witnesses in the Omotoso case. Picture: ANA
Victims and witnesses in the high-profile rape case involving Timothy Omotoso broke their silence on Wednesday, expressing heartbreak over the recent court ruling that saw the Nigerian pastor walk free.
Omotoso, the leader of Jesus Dominion International, was acquitted on 63 charges, including rape and human trafficking, by the Gqeberha High Court last week.
Judge Irma Schoeman ruled that the charges were based on “inadmissible evidence” and found that key testimonies did not hold up under cross-examination.
Despite the legal outcome, the women who stood against Omotoso said they are not backing down.
“We will not stop using our voices.
“We are disappointed. We are upset. The system has failed us. But we know that whatever the outcome was, we spoke our truth, and we will continue standing by it,” one of the women said at a media briefing hosted by the CRL Rights Commission.
Their collective statement detailed the emotional toll the case has had on them.
“Our lives have never been the same, personally and publicly. We feel more threatened now because our faces are visible to whoever is watching. But we are not ashamed. We are not defined by our trauma.”
The women claimed their testimony saved others from harm.
“We know we’ve kept that man away for eight years, and in that time, we saved many young girls, women, boys, and men from his horrendous behaviours. We also freed members of that congregation.”
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Omotoso was arrested in 2017 and faced numerous charges related to sexual abuse of congregants.
The trial was repeatedly delayed due to legal challenges, witness intimidation claims, and questions over the admissibility of evidence.
After years of proceedings, Judge Schoeman struck the case from the rolls, stating that the indictment was flawed and the charges lacked prosecutorial merit.
Despite the legal conclusion, Wednesday’s press briefing highlighted the deep, unresolved trauma and lingering questions from a case that shook the nation.
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The women criticised the state’s handling of the case, raising concerns about investigative lapses and how evidence was managed.
“Could the outcome have been different if our prosecution handled the matter better? We have so many unanswered questions,” one survivor asked.
“What we want now is proper investigation and justice—not just for us, but for others too.”
Their message to Omotoso was defiant.
“You may think you’ve gotten away with it, but you haven’t. We carry the pain every day, but this is also our story of surviving. We don’t get to be silenced. You don’t define us,” they said.
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A particularly emotional statement directly addressed Omotoso’s abuse of spiritual authority.
“Be reminded each day how weak you are, how you preyed on young girls, and how you used God as your friend.”
While acknowledging that the verdict brought no legal justice, the women vowed to keep fighting.
“Life does not stop here. We’ll be louder than before, so other victims can come forward without fear.”
The CRL Rights Commission has promised to engage with the Department of Justice and the NPA over the concerns raised.
National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi said on Wednesday that the NPA is working around the clock to conclude investigations into the state’s mishandling of the Omotoso case.
“There is no denying that the court’s decision in the Omotoso matter has had a devastating impact on our fight against GBV, but more importantly, we must spare a thought for the victims.”
“One cannot imagine what they have gone through having to courageously testify against someone who was revered as greater than God.”
“As the justice system, we need to understand what it takes for victims to speak out in those extremely difficult circumstances,” she said.
Additional reporting by Molefe Seeletsa
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