logo
Pastor Timothy Omotoso deported back to Nigeria

Pastor Timothy Omotoso deported back to Nigeria

The Herald18-05-2025

Controversial Nigerian televangelist Pastor Timothy Omotoso was deported from SA on Sunday.
The head of the Jesus Dominion International Church, who was recently acquitted of rape and human trafficking charges, flew from his home in Durban to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, from where he was escorted to his next flight by home affairs and police officials.
The process to have the 66-year-old deported started after his arrest in East London last week after the department of home affairs rejected his application to have the department's decision to declare him a prohibited person overturned.
It is believed he has since agreed to a voluntary deportation process.
Omotoso and his co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, were found not guilty on 32 charges including rape and human trafficking in the Gqeberha high court on April 2.
The case was marred by mismanagement of witnesses and evidence by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and judge Irma Schoeman ruled that while she might subjectively believe the complainants, the state had presented nothing to disprove the account presented by the accused.
The Herald

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Woman is held for ‘beating toddler with a bottle'
Woman is held for ‘beating toddler with a bottle'

The Herald

time12 hours ago

  • The Herald

Woman is held for ‘beating toddler with a bottle'

A Nelson Mandela Bay woman has been arrested for allegedly assaulting her three-year-old child with a bottle. Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said Motherwell police attended to a complaint in the Shukushukuma area at about 6.30pm on Thursday. 'On arrival they were informed by a witness that while passing a house, he noticed the female suspect assaulting her three-year-old son with an empty bottle,' Janse van Rensburg said. 'The witness entered the house to intervene and managed to stop the woman and alerted the police. 'The boy was taken to hospital by family and had visible injuries to his head and face. 'The female suspect was arrested on charges of attempted murder and child abuse.' Janse van Rensburg said the 35-year-old woman would appear in the Motherwell magistrate's court on Monday. The matter is being investigated by the family violence, child protection and sexual offences unit. The Herald

Men implicated in North End Lake horror denied bail
Men implicated in North End Lake horror denied bail

The Herald

time15 hours ago

  • The Herald

Men implicated in North End Lake horror denied bail

The state successfully opposed bail for five men accused of a series of violent crimes committed in Gqeberha in October 2024. The charges include robbery with aggravating circumstances, murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, and rape. The accused — aged between 18 and 35 — were arrested between October and December 2024. The charges stem from a brutal incident near North End Lake, in Milner Avenue, on Saturday October 12, during which a man was fatally stabbed, another severely injured, and two women were kidnapped and sexually assaulted. District court prosecutor Asavela Dweba strongly opposed the five accused's bail applications, citing the severity and violent nature of the crimes, that they were believed to be a flight risk, the danger posed to the community, and the trauma endured by the surviving victims. She also warned of the potential for witness intimidation and interference with the investigation. The court ruled in favour of the state, stating that the accused had failed to provide compelling personal circumstances to justify their release. It also acknowledged the strength of the case against them. Some of the accused also had various previous convictions or pending cases. The case was postponed to August 14 for further investigation. The Herald

Judge asked to retract generalised race-based remarks
Judge asked to retract generalised race-based remarks

The Herald

time20 hours ago

  • The Herald

Judge asked to retract generalised race-based remarks

Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has been urged to withdraw his 'unfortunate' remarks directed at a defence lawyer. The chairperson of the parliamentary justice portfolio committee Xola Nqola said the comments border on racism. 'We want to strongly condemn the totally unacceptable utterances. The incompetence or behaviour of legal practitioners has nothing to do with race, as he has alluded to in court. The remarks are extremely unfortunately and a gross generalisation.' The presiding judge in the long-running trial of five men accused of the murder of footballer Senzo Meyiwa was referring to the message, sent to his registrar, indicating the absence of the legal representative of two of the accused in court on Monday. Advocate Charles Mnisi said he would be running the Comrades Marathon on Sunday and would only drive back to Gauteng the next day. Mokgoatlheng then said: 'This is South Africa run by blacks. I don't think a white advocate would have had the gall to ask me that.' Nqola said: 'While we understand the frustration of the judge, families and accused with the duration of the trial, it is totally unacceptable to imply black legal professionals act unprofessionally compared to their white counterparts. We urge him to refrain from such gross generalisations. Furthermore, we demand judge Mokgoatlheng withdraws his comments and apologises to the nation.' A year ago the judge apologised for another outburst. Defence lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu had failed to pitch at the high court in Pretoria court on that day and also failed to formally communicate with the court about his absence. This prompted Mokgoatlheng's reaction: 'Is this how black lawyers behave, some of them?' Mokgoatlheng soon tendered an apology, saying: 'On reflection and after some thought, I admit my comments could be interpreted as intemperate, ill-advised, ill-considered or offensive, and if that is the perception, then I want to state I unreservedly withdraw the comments.' TimesLIVE

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store