It’s sometimes baffling how rape trials progress at a slow rate especially when popular people are involved. You wake up one morning to shocking news of public figures doing despicable things and just as the cases gain traction…silence.
People all over the world were at the edges of their seats when Pastor Timothy Omotoso first went to trial back in 2018. The case however, did not keep the momentum it started with. As with many cases, dates were constantly pushed further and the hype around it simmered down.
Whats the 411?
Timothy Oluseun Omotoso born 14 July 1958 is the senior pastor of a Jesus Dominion International, based in Durban, South Africa . He is currently in jail and on trial at the Port Elizabeth high court for rape and human trafficking. He is alleged to have groomed his victims and began molesting them from the age of 14.
Many young women from Omotoso’s church testified about how they were raped repeatedly by the pastor during church trips and other activities. One of these brave women was Cheryl Zondi (now 23 years old). Cheryl took the stand on live TV and described her ordeal.
After a few years of very little progress on the case, there has been a few videos shared on the SABC Youtube page. Basically defense lawyer Peter Daubermann claims that the witness statements are not credible due to some “inconsistencies” and he is moved for a mistrial. In other words he is trying his best to save his client despite the fact that he and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, face 97 charges, including rape, human trafficking and racketeering.
Are the delays justified?
It’s worrying how cases are handled when it comes to celebrities and prominent figures/organizations in general. In Zimbabwe we have the case of Memory Machaya. On one end we have evidence of victims and testimonies to back them up. But for some reason the perpetrators get away with certain acts based on some loop holes in the system or “inconsistencies”.
Sometimes the society even starts to point fingers at the victims. In Omotoso’s case some people questioned why the parents of the under aged girls allowed them to go to church trips and crusades. In the case of R Kelly people also questioned the parents that allowed their children to record with him without supervision. In the case of Memory Machaya people questioned why her parents allowed her to marry at her young age.
The points may be valid. But the main focus at the end of the day is these perpetrators should not be doing these things in the first place. Regardless of the age of the victim. And when they do, if the issue is publicized at the beginning of the trials, why then do they conclude in silence and only then share the resolve/sentence?
Justice delayed is justice denied. The wheels of justice turn very slow because of bureaucratic bungling by judicial officers and corruption in the system. It is the same in all African countries. This man should have been jailed a long time ago. The evidence against him is undeniable and very strong but it will take ages to get a conviction. The white settler colonial regimes did not waste time dealing with people they considered ” terrorists”. It was always a quick trial and boom , the man or woman is jailed or executed. Of course, it was not justice but the systems were efficient for their purposes. Why can’t present day administrators do the same? Deal with criminals decisively, without flinching!
Interesting perspective! I see where you’re coming from.