A trial date has been decided for a Nigerian pastor and two women accused of sexual assault.
Pastor Timothy Omotoso (59), Zukiswa Sitho (28) and Lusanda Solani (36) briefly appeared in the Port Elizabeth High Court yesterday.
They are facing 63 chargers including rape, human trafficking, sexual assault and racketeering.
Sitho and Solani are accused of recruiting girls for the Jesus Dominion International Church. The women would then be taken to Omotoso’s house in Umhlanga, KZN, where they were allegedly raped.
Some of the alleged victims were as young as 13.
Omotoso has been behind bars since he was arrested by the Hawks. He was denied bail twice after being deemed a flight risk. Sitho and Solani are out on R2 000 bail each.
Prosecutor Nceba Ntelwa told the fully packed court the state is ready to start the trial.
Judge Dayalin Chetty said: “The trial will start on 8 October and run until 15 December. It will resume on the first working day of January. Omotoso will remain in custody until the beginning of his trial.”
