Bishop Stephen Zondo is facing scores of allegations, including the rape of a church member. Image: FILE / PETER MOGAKI
The latest CRL Rights Commission hearings into the alleged sexual abuse claims against the head of the Rivers of Living Waters church on Monday exposed how the scandal has seemingly torn a family apart.
On Monday, Pastor Lydia Malete, a member of Rivers of Living Waters, testified before the commission, disputing allegations made by her niece before the commission that she had been sexually assaulted by head of the church, Bishop Stephen Zondo.
Malete told the commission that she was shocked to hear the allegations made by her niece.
Rivers of Living Waters leader Bishop Bafana Stephen Zondo has been accused of sexual assault.
The aunt of one of the victims who testified that Zondo allegedly raped her has denied the claims against the bishop.
The woman, a pastor at Rivers of Living Waters in Springs, says her niece initially told her she was raped by a music artist.
The relative of a former Rivers of Living Waters Ministries member who accuses its leader, Bishop Stephen Zondo, of sexually abusing her, says she is concerned about the claims her niece is making against the church leader.
Bongi Mofokeng’s aunt, Pastor Lydia Malete, testified before the Commission for the the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission) in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, on Monday.
BISHOP ZONDO JUSTICE KLAP
Comments Bishop Stephen Zondo from Rivers of Living Water Christian Church. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Thulani Mbele).
BISHOP Stephen Zondo has lost the appeal to stop the CRL
Rights Commission from holding its public hearing, which began last month,
looking into allegations of sexual assault and financial misconduct against his
church.
Yesterday, the church leader of the Rivers of Living Waters
Ministry and Pastor Lydia Malete appealed the ruling made on Friday, 11
December that rejected an urgent interdict against the commission.
The appeal was heard in the South Gauteng High Court a few
hours before Malete was due to appear before the commission.
BISHOP ZONDO RAPED US Archbishop Professor Doctor Bafana Stephen Zondo shows off his new look. Photo by Sonqoba Kunene.
The CRL Rights Commission heard testimonies of women alleging to have been raped by Bishop Stephen Zondo.
On Tuesday 15th December former church members of the Rivers of Living Waters Ministry, led by Zondo, told the commission how they suffered blackouts after being touched by Zondo, and when they regained counciounesness they found him penetrating them.
They said Zondo practiced a divide and rule strategy as well as to create a mistrust among the congregants so they don t breath a word to anyone.
Judge dismisses Bishop Zondo s application to stop CRL investigative hearings against him with costs 11 December 2020 - 18:03 Image: Gallo Images / Daily Sun / Tumelo Mofokeng A right to privacy does not give a right to secrecy.
These were the words of Judge Leonie Windell who rejected Archbishop Stephen Zondo and Pastor Lydia Malete s urgent interdict to stop the CRL Rights Commission s investigative hearings into alleged sexual abuse, philandering and financial misconduct at the Rivers of Living Waters Ministries.
The pair claimed the hearings had opened them up to public humiliation.
Malete, a senior pastor in the church, was invited by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) to give her testimony on Monday but filed an urgent interdict with Zondo to stop the hearings in response.