The first state witness to testify against Nigerian pastor, Timothy Omotoso, can now breathe a sigh of relief after being under gruelling cross-examination for three consecutive days.
The 22-year-old Cheryl Zondi waived her right to give her testimony in camera, opting to tell her story in open court.
She gave chilling testimony about the alleged sexual assault at the hands of the pastor which began when she was 14-years-old.
Defence attorney, Peter Daubermann, tore into her testimony, accusing her of fabricating her evidence.
He even called her a good actress and questioned her intention when she rejoined the Jesus Dominion Church in 2015 after cutting ties with the church for two years.
At one point he asked Zondi if she had been prepared to be raped again by Omotoso when she went back to his place in Durban, prompting Judge Mandela Makaula to reprimand him for his line of questioning.
Daubermann accused the Judge of protecting the witness.
Zondi, who is a marketing management student at the University of Johannesburg, will now get a break from the case to prepare for her upcoming exams.
It is not clear when she will come back for further cross-examination but the case is set to continue next Monday when a new witness is expected to take the stand.
The controversial pastor and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, refused to plead to the 63 charges against them at the start of the trial.
