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Daily Maverick
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Pastor Omotoso continues legal battle over cancelled crusade venue, mayor's statements in East London
The Jesus Dominion International Church in East London and Pastor Timothy Omotoso are continuing legal action against the Buffalo City metro after mayor Princess Faku ordered the cancellation of their booking at the Orient Theatre, where Omotoso was scheduled to lead a 'New Dawn' crusade. Although Pastor Timothy Omotoso has since left South Africa, Stuart Laubscher, the Nelson Mandela Bay metro based lawyer representing The Jesus Dominion International Church in East London said he was still taking instructions from his client and intended to proceed with legal action against the metro and mayor Princess Faku over the cancellation and events leading up to Omotoso's departure from the country. In April, Omotoso was released from prison after Judge Irma Schoeman acquitted him on several charges of human trafficking and sexual assault. The charges stemmed from allegations by several young female congregants, who claimed Omotoso had sexually assaulted them in a church residence in Durban. Judge Schoeman ruled that the State had failed to prove its case, citing, among other issues, its failure to properly cross-examine Omotoso and his co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, and to lead corroborating evidence to strengthen the case of each witness. The National Prosecuting Authority has now taken the first steps to attempt to appeal this ruling and has asked for 'clarifications' on the ruling. Following his release from prison Omotoso relocated to East London where his church, Jesus Dominion International, was still active. At the beginning of May the church planned a 'New Dawn' crusade in the city led by Omotoso. For this purpose they rented the Orient Theatre in East London for R14,575. Faku, however, ordered that the booking be cancelled and said publicly that Omotoso wasn't welcome in the city. On 10 May, the second-last day of the crusade, Omotoso was arrested in a joint operation by immigration officials and the police pending his deportation. He was declared a prohibited person in South Africa. He was released from custody though to provide him with a chance to appeal this ruling, but then left the country of his own accord on 18 May. He has been banned from South Africa for five years and should he wish to return after that he must apply for his prohibition to be lifted, according to a statement by the Department of Home Affairs. Laubscher, however, said last week that Omotoso 'didn't have to leave South Africa' but did so of his own accord. He confirmed that he was awaiting instructions on how to proceed in taking legal action against the Buffalo City metro, for cancelling the church's booking and against Faku personally. He said in a letter that their case is that the municipality – including the mayor – acted outside the scope of its power by cancelling Jesus Dominion International's booking at the Orient Theatre and the church now wanted its deposit back. 'Pastor Omotoso was acquitted of all charges in the High Court in Gqeberha. The reason for his acquittal is at this stage of no importance or relevance. Under South African law he is innocent of all charges,' he said. 'The reason they advanced infringes upon our client's rights under the South African Constitution in various ways, which does not need any further explanation as it is glaringly obvious, including but not limited to their rights to religious freedom,' he added. He added that Omotoso's reputation was damaged by Faku's statements and the municipality's actions, and their contention was that the mayor and municipal officials have abused their power. 'There is a substantial claim against the municipality (and other parties) and we are just awaiting instructions to issue summons,' Laubscher said. In a letter addressed to the metro and Faku, Laubscher said the church's booking was cancelled without justification and this constituted a 'misuse of public office and authority'. 'The booking was paid for in full and received by the municipal officials in East London and was summarily cancelled by yourself and this constitutes a breach of contract,' the letter addressed to Faku reads. He added that his client wanted the reasons for the cancellation of the booking 'in writing and not via social media'.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- BBC News
Timeline of di wahala of Nigerian pastor wey dem deport from South Africa
Televangelist pastor Timothy Omotoso don come back to Nigeria afta dem deport am from South Africa wia di kontri Interior Ministry bin declare am undesirable pesin. Omotoso bin don spend eight days for prison for South Africa awaiting trial, sake of accuse of human trafficking, rape, and racketeering wey dem sama am. According to SABC news, Omotoso suppose land for di Lagos Internationa Airport by 8.30pm of Sunday, May 18, 2025. Di pastor na di founder of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach (TOGO), and for dia website dem say dem be "apostolic and prophetic ministry" wey dey "propagate di gospel of Jesus Christ to dis generation wit signs following". Omotoso na also di senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International (JDI) wey get three branches across South Africa. However, since 2017, di charismatic pastor don dey accused of plenty offences, including grooming and raping im church pipo, some wey dey as young as 14. Here na a timeline of Omotoso plenty wahala: April 20, 2017: South Africa Police - di Hawks - arrest Omotoso for di Port Elizabeth airport afta im flight touch down, on top accuse say e bin dey sexually molest young girls. Robert Netshiunda, di tok-tok pesin of di police bin tell SABC News say dem find am for di women toilet for di arrival section wia e bin hide. Di accuse inluce say Omotoso bin traffick more dan 30 girls and women from di three branches of im churchl, to one house for Umhlanga community in KwaZulu-Natal, wia im allegedly dey abuse dem sexually. May 2017: Court remand Omotoso for prison pending wen im trial go start. October 2018: Di trial of Omotoso and two oda pesin - Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho - start for di high court for Port Elizabeth. October 21, 2018: 22-year-old Cheryl Zondi bear witness for court and tok how Omotoso start to dey sexually abuse her from wen she dey 14. She narrate how di pastor bin force her to perform sex acts on him, and afta dat e go recite Psalm 51 wey start wit "Have mercy on me O God". Zanda also tell di court say she bin dey get death threats as she agree to testify against di pastor. One strange caller tell am say: "You dey go against a man of God and God go kill you". October 22, 2018: Omotoso lawyer, Peter Daubermann, accuse di trial judge, Justice Mandela Makaula of bias and say make e comot hand for di trial. February 6, 2019: Judge Mandela Makula finally gree to wash im hand comot for Omotoso matter. April 2 2025: Court find Omotoso not guilty and discharge im and di two oda accused pesins. Di Judge say di prosecutors bin mishandle di case. Plenty pipo for South Africa bin vex wit di judgement and some bin express dia anger on top social media. May 4, 2025: Just a month afta e regain im freedom, Omotoso and im church organise ogbonge crusade wey dem call "New Dawn", but di Mayor of Buffalo City, Princess Faku, later ban di church from using any public facility for dia event. Major event centres wia di church bin wan use also cancel dia booking. However, di seven-day crusade still go ahead, but security pipo arrest di Pastor on di sixth day. May 10, 2025: Di Home Affairs Department for South Africa arrest Omotoso again as dem bin don declare am prohibited pesin. Dem say di pastor go appear in court on Monday, 12 May 2025, on top accuse say e contravene di Immigration Act. May 18, 2025: South Africa authorities deport Pastor Timothy Omotoso to Nigeria afta dem declare am 'undesirable pesin' and ban am from entering di kontri again for five years. Who be Timothy Omotoso Dem born oga Omotoso on 14 July, 1958 Bifor e start im ministry, e bin dey play music with popular Nigerian high life musician Ebenezer Obey. E claim say God teach am how to play piano, guitar, drums and oda musical instruments wen e dey only 10 years, according to di website of Tim Omotoso Global Outreach (TOGO). Im church, Jesus Dominion International get branches for di UK, France and across South Africa, and in 2013, e launch one 24-hour Satellite TV station wey im name na Ancient of Days Broadcasting Network (ADBN). Omotoso dey married wit three children.
The Herald
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
NPA to appeal Timothy Omotoso's acquittal
The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) director of public prosecutions in the Eastern Cape, Barry Madolo, has decided to appeal the judgment against infamous televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused. Omotoso, 63, who is the leader of the Jesus Dominion International Church, and church members Lusanda Sulani, 41, and Zukiswa Sitho, 33, were found not guilty on 32 charges including rape and human trafficking. Delivering her ruling in the Gqeberha high court on April 2, judge Irma Schoeman slammed the management of the case by the NPA and particularly the initial poor handling of the trial by state advocate Nceba Ntelwa. In a statement on Tuesday morning, NPA national spokesperson advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said after an extensive review of the case documents by a team of seasoned prosecutors and a legal opinion from senior counsel, Madolo decided to appeal the verdict. The relevant papers, to seek clarity from the judge on the factual findings of the case, had since been filed with the registrar of the Gqeberha high court on Monday. 'Once a clarification of the factual findings has been received by the judge, the NPA's legal team will finalise papers on the reservations of questions of law and file this application with the registrar of the high court. 'Even though Section 319 of the CPA [Criminal Procedure Act] does not prescribe the time frame for the filing of such papers, we undertake to file the application within a reasonable period to avoid any undue delay,' the statement read. The NPA is also proceeding with an internal investigation into the conduct of the team involved in the matter that started in August 2024. 'Since the judgment, the scope of the investigation has been extended to include both prosecution teams, with the view to identify, if necessary, disciplinary steps to be taken against peoples involved. 'After the court's judgment, the NPA appointed additional officials to assist with the investigation due to its extended scope.' The report from the investigation in expected to be revealed in June. Mhaga said while the NPA believed that Schoeman 'erred in certain of her findings', the judgment had impacted the reputation of the NPA to handle gender-based violence matters. 'The NPA has some of the most experienced SGBV prosecutors in the world, who know how to win cases, while also protecting the interests of victims. 'The NPA remains committed to providing victims of these crimes with the support they need, and the prosecutorial expertise required to ensure perpetrators are held to account.' Mhaga also encouraged victims to come forward and speak out against GBV, as well as to access the Thuthuzela Care Centres across SA for comprehensive support services. The statement comes as Omotoso is scheduled to appear again in the East London magistrate's court after his arrest at the weekend. NPA regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said Omotoso was arrested after a deportation order was opened against him. He made a brief appearance on Monday at a hearing that was initially scheduled to be held in court chambers in a private session, from which the media and the public were barred. The Herald
BBC News
10-05-2025
- BBC News
Why South African Police re-arrest Nigerian pastor wey dem clear of rape
South Africa Police Service (SAPS) don confam di re-arrest one Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso. Di National Commissioner SAPS, General Fannie Masemola wey confam di arrest on Saturday, 10 May tok say na di Department of Home Affairs Immigration Inspectorate plus di SAPS' National Intervention Unit (NIU) and Tactical Response Team (TRT) arrest di pastor on charges wey relate to Immigration Act. Immigration authorities and police arrest Omotoso for di town of East London on Saturday morning, "just after church", General Fannie Masemola tell tori pipo. "E go face charges related to violations of di Immigration Act, and e go appear for court on Monday," e tok. Na for April, one court for South Africa declare di Nigeria televangelist innocent afta e spend eight years for prison on top accuse say e rape and sexually assault young women for im church. Di judge bin free Oga Omotoso of all di 32 charges of rape, trafficking and sexual assault against am. Pipo bin para across South Africa afta di judge rule say even though di pastor explanations no follow, state prosecutors mishandle di case against am. Pastor Omotoso tell tori pipo say in dey happy wit di verdict. Di court also declare di oda co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, not guilty. Mr Omotoso was dramatically arrested at an airport in 2017 as he sought to leave the country. Authorities bin arrest di 66-year-old senior pastor of di Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church wey base for South Africa for 2017 on 32 charges, wey include rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Oga Omotoso bein deny di 32 charges for one trial court broadcast live and wey gain huge interest across di kontri. Several young women, some of dem wey still dey for school at di time, bin testify say Omotoso bin handpick dem, e go later pray for forgiveness afta e meet wit each of dem. For April, Eastern Cape High Court judge Irma Schoeman bin criticise di prosecution wey handle di case, e say di state no prove beyond dia case against Omotoso and di two assistants, wey also dey face di same charges. Im trial na di first prominent rape case dem go broadcast live for kontri wia sexual violence dey rampant. Di hearings bin attract huge interest, and raise difficult questions about victims' rights, impartiality and weda na di best thing for justice to dey broadcast live on television South Africa get one of di highest rates of rape and gender-based violence for di world. Dem report ova 42,500 rapes for 2023-24 financial year, according to police statistics, wey amount to more dan 116 rapes per day.
The South African
10-05-2025
- The South African
Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso rearrested after being acquitted of rape
A Nigerian televangelist recently acquitted of multiple rape charges has been rearrested on immigration offences, South African police said on Saturday. Timothy Omotoso was released last month, eight years after he was jailed to be tried on charges of raping and sexually assaulting several young women from his church. His acquittal drew anger across South Africa after the judge found that, while the pastor's explanations appeared improbable, state prosecutors had mishandled the case against him. Immigration authorities and police arrested Omotoso in East London on Saturday morning, 'just after church', police commissioner General Fannie Masemola told journalists. 'He will be facing charges related to violations to the Immigration Act and he will appear in court on Monday,' he said. The 66-year-old pastor at the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church based in South Africa was arrested in 2017 on 32 charges, including rape, sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Several young women, some of whom were still in school at the time, testified that they were handpicked by Omotoso, who would pray for forgiveness after each encounter with them. In April, Eastern Cape High Court judge Irma Schoeman criticised the prosecution's handling of the case, saying the state had not proved beyond reasonable doubt its case against Omotoso and two assistants, who also faced charges. South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape and gender-based violence in the world. Over 42 500 rapes were reported in the 2023/24 financial year, according to police statistics, amounting to more than 116 per day. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
