Publications
- A new witness took the stand to testify against rape-accused televangelist Timothy Omotoso, who is on trial with his two co-accused.
- "I am here because Tim Omotoso molested me," Hlubikazi Faleni told the Eastern Cape High Court in Port Elizabeth.
- She testified she had wanted a father figure and mentor, but Omotoso said she could be his "girlfriend", before allegedly touching her.
A new witness, who took the stand in the trial of rape-accused televangelist Timothy Omotoso and co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho on Thursday, said she was standing in court because of Omotoso.
The three face 97 charges, including rape, human trafficking and racketeering, with 47 witnesses to testify against them.
Hlubikazi Faleni, also known as Vicky, was mentioned in testimony by earlier witnesses in the Eastern Cape High Court in Port Elizabeth.
The 26-year-old appeared to swiftly identify the accused in court.
"That's Tim, that's Lusanda and that's Zukiswa," she said.
Faleni recalled how she joined the East London branch of the Jesus Dominion International Church in 2009.
She told the court:
Faleni’s testimony related to several charges against Omotoso, including trafficking in persons for sexual purposes, sexual assault and rape.
'I came to Durban to audition in a church'
She told of how she met a woman called "Sindi" in 2011, before joining the musical group Grace Galaxy in 2013.
Faleni said she met Omotoso in church.
"After I sang, he called me to his office in the church. He said I have joined the group now and should go to the house in Umhlanga. He paid for a cab for me to get to the house."
She said she arrived at the house and found about 25 girls, some who looked like they were still in their teens.
She said:
Faleni said "Fezeka" – who has since allegedly fled – Sindi and Sulani welcomed her.
"They told me how to behave in the house, to stay clean all the time; that I can't go to Omotoso without bathing first."
Faleni – who was travelling between East London and Durban – told the court Omotoso paid for her travel.
'I don't like slow people'
She detailed an encounter that took place during one of her trips to Durban.
"One evening, I was told by Fezeka that accused one wanted to see me in his room," she added.
"I went up to his room and when inside, he said I must lock the door."
Faleni said she went to kneel next to his bed.
She said:
She said he responded: "I'm not here to play a father figure role. What do you want me to be in your life?"
Faleni said she told him she would like him to be her musical mentor.
He then allegedly told her: "I don't like slow people. I can help you, you can be my girlfriend."
She said she told him again she would like him to be a mentor in life and music, to which he allegedly instructed her to "go and call Fezeka".
"I went down to find Fezeka. She asked me what happened. I told her and she told me, 'You need to be flexible, you need to listen to accused one (Omotoso)'. Fezeka said accused one doesn't like slow people."
Naked from the waist
"I went back inside the room. He told me to lock the door; I did."
Faleni said she then went around the bed to kneel down in front of him.
She said Omotoso then told her to get onto the bed.
She said:
"I did as he said. I got on top of the towel. Then he told me to remove my panties."
Faleni said it was then that she noticed he was naked from the waist down.
"He then climbed on top of me. He put his private parts in between my thighs, started satisfying himself until he ejaculated."
She said he then told "me to wipe myself with the towel I was laying on top of, he told me to dress up and put the towel in a laundry basket that was in the room".
"Before going to put the towel in the bathroom, he said we should pray, he started the prayer – 'God have mercy on us'."
The trial continues on Friday.
