The alleged victims of prominent Bishop Stephen Zondo will have to wait another half a year for his rape trial to continue in the Pretoria High Court.
Zondo made an appearance on Friday in a bid to challenge the testimony of expert clinical psychologist Gerard Labuschagne.
Labuschagne gave evidence on reasons why victims sometimes delay in reporting the crime, testimony that has now been ruled to be admissible.
The archbishop of the Rivers of Living Water Church is facing several counts of rape and sexual assault with one of the alleged ordeals dating back to the 1980s.
Now that the evidence by Labuschagne has been declared admissible, the State must close its case and it will be the defence’s turn to make its version known.
But the prosecution said it only had one more aspect to explore and it has been agreed with the defence that this will only happen in March next year.
Judge Joseph Mosopa informed Zondo of this agreement.
“The State and your council has agreed on a date for your continuation of trial and it will be on 3 March to 20 March 2025. You are warned… 10 o’clock on the third of March you must be here. If you are not here, I am going to issue a warrant for your arrest.”
But that does not mean the bishop will not enter a courtroom until then.
His second rape case, where he faces five more counts, is due back in the Sebokeng Regional Court in October.
-EWN
In other news – Popular host Penny Ntuli rejects big radio gig
South African award-winning radio personality Penny Ntuli set social media abuzz after she revealed that she had turned down a big job offer to stay at Jozi FM.
No doubt the post has since thrust her into top trends thanks to her huge social media following. After her dramatic Gagasi FM exit earlier this year, she joined Jozi FM and has been winning big with the station. Read More