More rape cases woes for controversial Bishop Zondo

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The controversial Archbishop Bafana Stephen Zondo made a brief appearance at the Sebokeng Regional Court on Friday.

The 57-year-old Rivers of Living Waters Ministries leader is facing charges of five counts of rape and three counts of sexual assault.  

It is alleged that Bishop Zondo committed these offences between 2013 to 2018 to two female members of his church, inside the church in Evaton, the National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana revealed.   

Speaking on a current affairs show at a local radio station, Thetha FM, the clergyman blamed what he termed a plot against him for his court challenges.

“When you’ve worked so hard throughout the years and suddenly are accused of such, that can affect the community negatively. 

“Taking into account that people are entrusting you with their loved ones and when such things occur it also degrade one’s reputation, and this ruins the relationship one has with community.

“The sad thing is that there was a public court which dragged my name in the mud, had this matter been discussed with its engineers; it would have been sorted out then. However, it was dragged for so long, probably for six years,” he said.

Zondo questioned the separation of the jurisdiction of rape cases he’s accused of but expressed confidence in the justice system.

He added; “Hopefully this[matter] would be dealt with accordingly and that it would save even those who will be here in the next generation to come.”

Asked how being gagged in the media has affected him in the public space, he responded by saying this agenda was ‘cooked’ back in 2010. 

“Influence is irritating, it was not nice then and thirteen years later we are here. All I needed to do was to listen especially when accused of something I have no idea of, more so when there are those in the know. 

“Unfortunately, these are the results of being successful. My progress is halted not because there is a need but false accusations,” he expressed. 

Zondo stated that his congregation did not allow him to step down because some of these things emerged when it was known already that certain individuals were plotting somewhere. 

“What we did not know was how it would be executed,” he concluded.

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Meanwhile, on an unrelated matter, Mahanjana said the trial where Bishop Zondo is facing multiple counts of rape, Contravention of Sexual offences Act as well as defeating the ends of justice will resume on February 19, 2024 at Pretoria High court.  

“However, this matter was postponed to March 12, 2024 for trial at Sebokeng Magistrates’ Court,” she added.