By: Natasha Archary

The rape trial against Bishop Stephen Zondo resumed in the Pretoria High Court on Monday, 19 February.
Zondo’s rape trial was postponed in December 2023 after he made his first appearance at the Sebokeng Regional Court on multiple charges of rape, sexual assault and defeating the ends of justice.
Bishop Zondo stands accused of raping female members of Rivers of Living Waters Ministries, the church in Evaton he co-founded.
The 57-year old is alleged to have committed the above offences between 2013 and 2018.
One of Zondo’s alleged victim was just 8-years old when the head of the church allegedly raped her in 1980.
Two other women from Bishop Zondo’s congregation claim he raped and sexually assaulted them a number of times.
The women say the rapes occured at a hotel in Johannesburg, Evaton and at the church’s Robertsham branch.
It is alleged that one of Zondo’s victims is a family member whom he is accused of raping repeatedly.
There are at least seven women, who have come forward accusing Bishop Zondo of rape, and in 2021 the religious leader was accused of offering one of the women R25 000 to drop the charges against him.
As the rape trial against Zondo resumed on Monday, the court heard how holy oil at the church allegedly contained traces of human blood.
Zondo is accused of 10 counts of rape, indecent assault, defeating the ends of justice and has been charged with contravening the Sexual Offences Act.
Bishop Zondo has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
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