Sello Sele
South Africa’s gender-based violence (GBV) plight revealed an absurd contradiction in the public’s reaction towards two recent cases.
This being the shock after the alleged assault of a now eight-year-old girl, referred to as Cwecwe, at the Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, in stark contrast to the wave of celebration and jubilation among the followers of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso’s acquittal of multiple rape and kidnapping charges. Some even described his acquittal as a “victory for the faithful”.
This juxtaposition exposes the absurdity among South Africans regarding sexual violence. This reveals what can only be described as glaring double standards.
The case of Cwecwe’s alleged sexual assault at her school, ignited outcry nationwide as the details of the incident came to light. The #JusticeForCwecwe campaign gained traction, with social media platforms ablaze with calls for justice and accountability. The Eastern Cape’s Department of Education acted swiftly by deregistering the school where the incident occurred – citing its failure to protect the minor girl and being uncooperative towards the investigative process. The message from the public is clear: violence against children must be met with the full might of the law.
The sharp contrast to this was Omotoso’s acquittal by the Eastern Cape High Court, ending the long and highly publicised trial. He was accused of allegedly grooming and raping young women for several years. The judge cited that the prosecution had failed to prove its case. This case is one that is far more troubling and the reactions by the public to the two cases cannot be ignored.
The public called for justice for a young girl whose life was forever changed by a violent assault. On the other hand, a group of men and women celebrated the acquittal of a man who had been accused of using his position of power to exploit and abuse vulnerable young women.
What is happening here? Is this an example of the hypnotic effect religious leaders have over their followers?
One might ask, how can women – many of whom would undoubtedly identify with victims of sexual violence – proudly rally behind a man accused of perpetrating such crimes? The answer lies, in part, in the complex relationship between power, belief, and religion – particularly, in the context of South Africa’s so-called “miracle churches”. Omotoso’s followers see him not as a perpetrator but as a martyr; a man whose innocence was denied by the justice system they believe is unjust. They chose to ignore the testimonies of the young women who accused him of abuse. Instead, placing their faith in their pastor’s word.
Karl Marx’s assertion that “religion is the opiate of the masses” remains highly relevant in this context. These words reflect the view that religion can function as a mechanism to pacify and distract the oppressed, offering them solace and hope while suppressing their capacity for critical thought and action. This quote seems to ring true for many followers of Omotoso.
Rather than questioning the credibility of the accusations against him, they placed unwavering faith in their pastor’s innocence. To them, his acquittal became not just a legal victory, but a spiritual one, reinforcing their belief in the miraculous power of their religious leader.
The contrasting responses to Cwecwe’s case and Omotoso acquittal are examples of legal inconsistencies – and a deeper societal issue. In South Africa, where GBV is rampant, the public’s reaction to these cases expose double standards to what is morally right and what is ideologically convenient. The Cwecwe case calls for swift action and demands justice for a defenceless child. The Omotoso case, however, underscores how deeply entrenched power and religious influence can obscure appropriate reactions to social injustice – regardless of the many victims involved in their lamenting voices.
■ Dr Sello Sele is a lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of the Free State (UFS).
