Bishop Zondo faces 9 charges of rape

Rivers of Living Waters Ministries leader, Bishop Zondo is facing nine charges of rape, defying the Sexual Offences Act and defeating ends of justice. 

Zondo appeared before the Pretoria High Court on Monday, 23 August 2021, to face the charges.

It is alleged that seven of the victims were raped by the accused. Rape incidents occurred at Evaton, while others were raped in Formula 1 hotel in Johannesburg, and another rape incident occurred in Rivers of Living Waters Ministries branch in Robertsham.

One of the victims was aged 8-9 when Zondo allegedly raped her in April-June 1980.

It is further alleged that the 55-year-old pastor attempted to bribe one of the victims with a sum of R25 000 to withdraw the case against him. 

The rape case has been postponed to the end of August 2021.

“The trial was set to start today (Monday) however, the defence requested the matter be postponed to 30 November as they were not ready to proceed,” addressed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Regional Spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana. 

“The state advocate opposed the postponement stating that the defence had enough time to prepare for the matter and that the state was ready to proceed with the trial. The judge granted the defence a one-week postponement,” he added. 

Zondo’s supporters had planned mobilized march from the city’s church branch in Jeff Masemola Street to the high court before his trial got underway. There were however, no reports of disturbances in the city’s CBD.