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Bishop Bafana Zondo
PHOTO: Thulani Mbele / Gallo Images / Sowetan
- Rivers of Living Waters Ministry Bishop Bafana Zondo has submitted documents to stop the CRL Commission hearings.
- The commission is investigating allegations of sexual abuse, among others.
- Zondo was summoned to appear before the commission on December 14.
The controversial pastor, Bishop Bafana Zondo, has filed an urgent injunction to prevent the CRL Commission from continuing its hearings on the sexual abuse allegations leveled against him.
Zondo’s case against the commission and its chairman, Professor David Luka Mosoma, was briefly heard via virtual session at the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
In court documents, Zondo argued that the commission failed to act within its rights when it held public broadcast hearings last month on the allegations against him and the church.
“The issue for determination is whether it falls within the constitutional and statutory mandate for respondents to hold ‘hearings’ during their investigative processes as if they were a commission of inquiry. They are not,” Zondo said in documents.
Last month, over the course of three days, the commission heard heartbreaking testimonies from victims who alleged that they had been sexually assaulted by Zondo and that he used some form of supernatural powers to control their lives and commit “evil” acts.
Rights to dignity ‘violated’
Zondo pastor Lydia Malete, also a plaintiff in the matter, said the hearings held by the commission had put their lives in danger.
“The common person watching and listening to these ‘hearings’ will not examine the allegations closely or seriously to determine their accuracy. The common person cautioned that they believe the allegations are factual, which undoubtedly undermines the dignity of church members. said the second applicant. and his role in the church, as well as fellow pastors and myself, “Zondo said in the newspapers.
“The net effect of false accusations that are broadcast on television, radio and social media is violence to the image of the second applicant, the church members and myself.
“Our rights to dignity have been violated by the way the first defendant is conducting his proceedings. Our rights to practice our faith are being unduly attacked and our constitutional right to association is being hampered and violated,” he added.
Representatives for the commission and Masoma said they were seeking to have the matter removed from the court’s list. The matter was expected to continue in court on Friday.
Meanwhile, the commission had sent a summons to Zondo to appear before them on December 14.
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