Testimony in Omotoso case comes to an end — finally

The end is finally in sight for the drawn-out trial of human trafficking accused pastor Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused, as the defence closed its case on Wednesday.

The matter was postponed to 2025 for closing arguments ahead of sentencing.

As the clergyman was led back to his holding cell below the Gqeberha high court, he shared a message with his supporters and members of the media.

“Have a happy new year in advance. God bless you and God bless SA,” Omotoso said, before police led him downstairs.

The defence’s case came to a close with the testimony of the pastor’s co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, who also face charges of rape, sexual assault, human trafficking and racketeering.

The pair admitted to performing a number of duties in the Jesus Dominion International church (JDI) — travel arrangements, assisting during church services and even helping prepare his outfits for public appearances — but denied all the allegations by the string of complainants.

They are alleged to have played a part in recruiting young women who would join the church and stay at the JDI mission houses in Durban where Omotoso is accused of sexually assaulting several of them and making untoward sexual comments about them.

Under questioning from her attorney, Peter Daubermann, Sulani, 43, told the court she joined JDI in 2006 after a neighbour invited her to a church service in Gqeberha.

She soon started volunteering for new roles in the church, moving to Pretoria to assist with gathering offerings during services and depositing the money into the church’s bank account.

She later moved to Durban and started performing duties at the mission house where singing groups and other women would stay to “develop their talents” and to grow in their spiritual lives.

There she was one of a few women who volunteered to prepare the lavish outfits that were a part of Omotoso’s public image, by taking them to laundromats and ironing for the pastor.

Like many other congregants, she would have private meetings with Omotoso in his bedroom at the mission house, where they would discuss church business, or she would seek spiritual guidance, discuss her marital problems, or they would simple pray together.

Under cross-examination by state advocate Luvuyo Pomolo, Sulani denied that she had arranged for the complainants to come to the mission house, inquired whether they were virgins or prevented anyone from leaving the premises.

Two of the complainants, twin sisters, said Sulani was present when Omotoso became upset and put a curse on them, telling them that their body parts would be scattered and they would end up married to the same man.

Sulani denied the allegations and said such words were never uttered in her presence.

Sitho, 35, was the next witness on the stand.

She told the court she joined the church in 2005 in Gqeberha.

She also volunteered for more responsibilities within the church and soon became Omotoso’s personal secretary whenever he came to the Bay, or she would travel with him to church events across the country.

It was during her time with the church where she received the nickname “Love Bubble” from Omotoso and other congregants.

She said her duties included assisting the pastor during prayer services, driving him around and transcribing sermons for a book he was writing, titled The Heart of Man.

Sometimes, during church services, he would ask her to read chapters he had completed to the congregation.

She frequently visited the mission house in Durban and would sometimes sleep over when she was not travelling with her husband, who was also a JDI member.

However, she said her duties at the church did not involve the mission house.

Sitho would visit Omotoso, sometimes in his bedroom, for prayer and to discuss marital problems, adding that he had never made any unwanted sexual advances towards her.

She said none of the complainants who she saw at the mission house ever complained to her about how they were treated, and she never got the impression anyone was being held against their will.

Sitho denied allegations that she brought women to the mission house.

After Daubermann closed the defence’s case, judge Irma Schoeman postponed the matter to January 22 for the state and the defence to present their closing arguments.

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