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Homeless woman testifies how she ended up in Omotoso's church


Please note that this article contains testimony of a sexually-explicit nature, reader discretion is advised.

The State has called its second witness in the rape and human trafficking trial of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso.

The 30-year-old Lerato Msibi, who hails from Secunda, took the oath in the Port Elizabeth High Court on Wednesday.

Msibi, who suffers from a heart condition, testified how she was living on the streets with her sister when she heard about a pastor who can perform miracles.

She joined the church in 2012 and told the court how she listened to people's testimonies believing that God was going to answer her prayers.

She says when she joined the church they were preparing to go on a crusade in Durban.

Msibi, who wanted to be healed from her heart condition, felt it would be better to get close to Omotoso so that she could tell him in person what she needed.

Msibi described in detail how she was taken to a hotel with several other girls where they stood in line to meet Omotoso.

Once she was in the room she saw each girl kneeling before Omotoso who had his legs wide open.

Later when Msibi was alone with Omotoso she testified on how he sexually assaulted her.

She testified how she was instructed to massage his feet and then given permission to touch other parts of his body.

By then Msibi was already instructed to shower and lock the bedroom door and was also told to take off her underwear.

She says Omotoso promised not to penetrate her but instead rubbed himself over her private parts until he ejaculated.

Msibi says when Omotoso was done he prayed and told her to go to her room to rest.

The trial continues.

Omotoso and his two co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho have pleaded not guilty to 63 main charges and 34 alternatives against them, ranging from rape to sexual assault and human trafficking.