Lynn Williams
Lies, lies, lies.
This was Pastor Timothy Omotoso's response to allegations of rape and sexual assault leveled against him by the complainants in his trial.
He accused the complainants of lying during his cross-examination by State Advocate Mduduzi Mzila in the Gqeberha High Court on Tuesday.
Omotoso, 66, and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho are in the dock on charges of rape, racketeering, and human trafficking.
Some of the alleged sexual offenses are said to have taken place in Omotoso's bedroom at his mission house in Durban while the complainants were there at various stages.
Omotoso denied all of the alleged acts of sexual assault and rape that had taken place in his bedroom, and elsewhere.
Judge Irma Schoeman asked Omotoso whether girls were ever called to his bedroom.
In response, he said they were called to his room to receive guidance and prayers.
He also conceded that the girls sometimes massaged his feet at his request.
Omotoso further denied the allegations of oral sex, sexual assaults, and him asking one of the State's key witnesses, Cheryl Zondi, to rub his private parts with Vaseline.
"They used the Vaseline only for my feet," he said.
When the trial resumes on Wednesday, Sulani is expected to take the stand.
Sulani and Sitho are out on bail, while Omotoso has been in custody for more than seven years.
