CRL says investigation will ensure victims of GBV in churches receive necessary assistance

JOHANNESBURG - Chairperson of the Cultural, Religious and Linguistic (CRL) Rights Commission, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, says the investigation of the chapter nine institution will aim to ensure that victims of gender based violence (GBV) in the church receive the necessary assistance when they break their silence.

She expressed disappointment over the judgment of the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha that acquitted controversial televangelist, Timothy Omotoso of the rape and trafficking charges levelled against him.

The body has been supporting the accusers who spoke out against the popular church leader, but expressed regret over instilling confidence in the witnesses over the criminal justice system.

READ: Pastor Timothy Omotoso acquitted on all charges of rape, human trafficking

Omotoso was acquitted of all the charges levelled against him after 8 years of being in custody, with Judge Irma Schoeman lamenting the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) over its handling of the matter.

The acquittal has led to the CRL Commission, along with other chapter nine institutions, launching an investigation into what went wrong and the shortcomings of the system.

Mkhwanazi-xaluva says the judgment evoked a sense of pain for the commission.

 "How do we make sure that those who come after them do not experience the same thing? It is very painful for us that we kept promising these young people that the system will take care of them, and I’ll be the first one to apologise to them. Had I known, I would’ve said, “go hide under your beds. This is just not going to work.”