We won’t be silenced, vow Omotoso’s “victims”

Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso’s alleged victims say they will never stop speaking up about the trauma and violations they experienced at the hands of the religious leader.

The young women spoke out publicly yesterday for the first time since the Nigerian televangelist and his co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were acquitted of rape, human trafficking, and racketeering charges earlier this month.

During the briefing the women also talked about some of the backlash they’ve been receiving following the court’s decision.

The case was bungled by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and sparked public outrage, re-igniting the debate over the handling of Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) cases in the country.

Speaking at the briefing at the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Rights (CRL) Commission’s offices in Braamfontein, Penny Msibi read out a statement from the young women.

“Not only have we been threatened, but we’ve also been exposed to social media attacks, defamation, and attempts to shame us into silence.”

[HAPPENING NOW] Some of the complainants in the Timothy Omotoso matter speak out following the not guilty judgement against Omotoso earlier this month. Omotoso faced rape, human trafficking, and racketeering charges.

The briefing is being led by the CRL Rights Commission.@eNCA pic.twitter.com/sYRHNJcLgl

— ✨ Hloni Mtimkulu ✨ (@HloniMtimkulu) April 17, 2025

Cheryl Zondi, the first complainant and one of the key witnesses in the case, hit back at social media users who’ve accused them of making up the stories of rape against him.

Zondi says lying wouldn’t bring them anything as there’s no reward for public sympathy.

“…We didn’t lie, we stand by our truth, whether the system stands with us or not we are not going anywhere.”

The briefing at the CRL Commission comes after several Chapter 9 institutions last week announced that they will be banding together to restore public confidence in the country’s judiciary.