Rape-accused Bishop Zondo fails in latest bid to have charges against him dismissed

JOHANNESBURG - Disgraced Archbishop Stephen Zondo’s latest bid to have the charges against him dismissed has failed.

The Pretoria High Court has ruled against Zondo’s discharge application.

The archbishop of the Rivers of Living Water Church is accused of crimes including rape and sexual assault of his congregants and the staff at his church.

A Section 174 application has been brought by an accused who believes the State has no winnable case against him.

Zondo has tried to argue that the only reason that the women who accused him of rape came forward was because they know that would destroy him.

But Judge Mokhine Mosopa was not sold.

"I have already made a finding that their evidence is credible, reliable and trustworthy at this stage of the proceedings despite being extensively cross-examined."

Mosopa found that there was a need for Zondo to answer the case against him.

This means that he will now have to make his case and call his witnesses to testify.

His lawyer, Advocate Piet Pistorius, said he would have a way forward on their defence by Monday.