KEY POINTS
- A South African court freed Timothy Omotoso from all 32 charges for human trafficking together with sexual offenses.
- Court acquitted both Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho as fellow defendants.
- Victim compensation becomes a topic of societal focus following the outcome which led to Omotoso’s freedom.
The Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso faces deportation to Nigeria after judges found him not responsible for any of his 32 charges related to human trafficking and sexual offenses.
Neither Timothy Omotoso nor Lusanda Sulani (41) nor Zukiswa Sitho (35) received convictions for any of their 32 alleged charges including human trafficking and rape offenses.
Timothy Omotoso acquitted but a trial marked by delays and dramatic testimonies
Several witnesses and personal reasons led to their withdrawal from testifying after experiencing trauma during the prolonged court process.
According to NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, witness testimonies were impacted by long delays so that some witnesses abandoned their court involvements because they started new lives and no longer wished to rehash their court experiences.
The role of Cheryl Zondi in the case
Because of her public declaration Cheryl Zondi became a national figure who revealed the horrifying mistreatment she and other women suffered at the hands of Omotoso under fake religious pretenses.
Zondi shared deep emotions after the ruling through an interview proclaiming that their lifestyle permanently changed when they spoke out and making the court case feel like everything they went through during the last eight years.
A national conversation on justice and Gender-Based Violence
Timothy Omotoso acquitted of all charges, however this case returned broad attention to the difficulties experienced by sexual violence victims together with the complicated obstacles to achieving justice.
The judicial system faces vital scrutiny following Omotoso’s acquittal because the ruling threatens both victim safety and the system’s ability to effectively resolve gender-based violence cases in South Africa.
