Omotoso 'not guilty' of rape, human trafficking charges

Omotoso and his alleged recruiters, Lusanda Solani and Zikiswa Sitho, appeared before the Gqeberha High Court on Wednesday.

The trio was awaiting judgement in the racketeering, trafficking in persons, rape, and sexual assault case against them. 

In total, they faced more than 30 criminal charges.

Judge Iram Schoeman delivered judgement in the matter nearly eight years after the televangelist was arrested. 

The judge read through the state’s evidence, detailing how Omotoso and his co-accused allegedly lured, assaulted, and raped the victims.

"The twin sisters, Anele and Neliswa Makaza, were participants in the South African Singing Competition Idols. They wished to join the Grace Galaxy Choir but were rejected due to their age of 17 years. Later, another choir member contacted them and thereafter Fezeka called them and informed them that they are part of the Grace Galaxy.

"They were told they had to go to the Mission House in uMhlanga to rehearse with a group. They were still attending school and accused one paid their school fees. They were in the same way individually called to an appointment where they were sexually assaulted.

"After the sexual assault, accused one prayed, 'God have mercy on us'. This happened more than once to each of them. When they went to accuse one to tell him that they intended to leave the Mission House, he cursed them and told them that their body parts would be scattered all over and dogs would drink their blood in the streets.

"He also said that one of the sisters would get pregnant and both would marry the same man. What distinguishes their evidence is that afterthe  accused one's arrest, they were at the front of a group of young girls protesting his innocence that was broadcast on television. They testified that it was because accused two told them always to protect accused one.

"Neliswa came forward and reported the abuse as she could not live with the guilt anymore. Gloria Rejoice Maxakaza, the mother of the twins, testified that she knew all the accused from the JDI church. Fezeka came to her and asked her to send the twins to accused one to be trained in music. She refused to do so.

"However, the twins begged her to go and eventually they went. They were supposed to return as they were still attending school. She was not allowed to see her children and when she saw the children at church, they ran away when accused one appeared. She went to report the matter to a brigadier in the South African police service. He told her that there's nothing they could do about it."

A lone voice in the packed courtroom exclaimed, "yes", when Judge Schoeman read out the verdict of not guilty. 

Schoeman said that the State had not proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

"I view the explanations of the accused are improbable and I don't subjectively believe them. However, due to the uncertainty of the actions of the state and the lack of proper cross-examination, I cannot find that the accused's versions are so improbable that they cannot reasonably possibly be true. 

"The accused bore no onus to convince the court of their innocence.

"I am of the view, in the light of all the circumstances of the case, that the state has not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The accused are found not guilty and are discharged on all the charges."

Speaking to the media, Omotoso said it had been a difficult past eight years for him, and God will lead him to his next chapter.

"The only thing I can say is I thank God, only God can speak to me when the time is right, but for now I want to rest, it has been a long eight years."

Congregants of his church celebrated outside the court precinct. 

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