The legal system rapes victims of sexual abuse who seek justice in the courts, judging by what is unfolding in the Pastor Timothy Omotoso trial.
For many of us watching the live broadcast of a rape case for the first time, the defence’s treatment of Cheryl Zondi has been hellish. It is nothing short of a miracle that she was still on the stand yesterday, fighting not only to put the man who ruined her life in jail, but also the very system that ought to be protecting her.
I am proud to be among the multitudes rallying behind this brave young woman. You would have to be half the monster I imagine Omotoso to be not to have felt goosebumps watching Zondi parry inappropriate and tasteless questions from defence lawyer Peter Daubermann.
“Why did you not scream?” was one of the ridiculous questions put to her. Zondi was also asked why she did not react when being raped, and was even called a “good actor”.
She was made to relive her two-and-a-half-year rape ordeal that started when she was just 14 years old, allegedly at the hands of Omotoso.
Sadly, this is the painful secondary rape victims are subjected to by the legal system. It is no wonder that some choose to suffer in silence.
A Victims of Crime report states that 250 out of every 100 000 South African women are victims of sexual abuse. Zondi is part of that grim statistic. The 22-year-old’s sin was to seek spiritual growth at Omotoso’s Jesus Dominion International Church.
The Nigerian pastor is accused of luring Zondi and dozens of other young girls, some under age, from his church to his uMhlanga mansion in Durban and keeping them as sex slaves.
In the televised trial and in front of her tormentor, Omotoso’s legal team forced Zondi to go into graphic detail about the abuse she endured. She is the first to testify, and I believe her.
I do not need to listen to the testimonies of the 30 women and girls Omotoso allegedly raped. Zondi became my hero when I heard her speak for the many helpless women paralysed by the fear of coming forward to face a justice system that makes them feel responsible for the actions of the trash who ruin their lives.
Yesterday, Omotoso had an army of women toyi-toying and rooting for him outside the court. Mothers, grandmothers and fathers were all there supporting a potential predator. Cheryl is your child, for God’s sake. Pick her side!
Phathisani Moyo is News Editor at The Star