Phiwokuhle Mothemela
It was the clash of the songs outside the Gqeberha High Court on Wednesday after the Nigerian pastor of the Jesus Dominion International Church and his two co-accused briefly appeared in court.
A group of women from the ANC’s women's league faced off with Omotoso’s choir clad in black and white dresses, yellow hair pins, and yellow shoes.
When he enters and leaves the courtroom, Omotos is warmly greeted by members of his church who wave and tell him that they love him.
Meanwhile, the application by Omotoso to have the evidence of 11 state witnesses declared inadmissible, has been dismissed.
Omotoso and his two co-accused Zukiswa Sitho and Lusanda Sulani face a litany of charges which include rape, human trafficking, and sexual assault.
In her judgment, Judge Irma Schoeman said the witnesses voluntarily made witness statements.
Schoeman also touched on the utterances made by the defence attorney Peter Daubermann in the previous appearance against former state prosecutors Nceba Ntelwa and Ismet Cerfonterin and said there is no evidence that they were corrupt.
This is after Daubermann told the court that the advocates attempted to mislead the court by presenting false evidence to obtain a conviction at all costs.
"Referring to them as corrupt, was inappropriate and unfounded."
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson for the Eastern Cape Luxolo Tyali welcomed the dismissal and said they are hoping to finally proceed with the trial.
"We have always maintained that all these applications by the defence are tricks aimed at delaying the trial," says Tyhali.
He says they hope that on the next appearance, they will be able to continue with the trial and call more witnesses.
He added that they are confident that witnesses that have been called and those lined up will help ensure that Omotoso and his co-accused are found guilty.
Read More: Omotoso trial: Defence takes aim at former state prosecutors
