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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'.
The Citizen
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Churches reject Omotoso's Buffalo City crusade plans
The municipality was forced to cancel Omotoso's booking at the Orient Theatre in East London. Religious and traditional leaders in Buffalo City Metro municipality have rejected Nigerian televangelist, Tim Omotoso, who is planning a crusade in the city following his acquittal in a trial. Omotoso booked the Orient Theatre in East London to conduct his seven-day crusade from last Sunday, but the municipality cancelled the booking of the hall due to apparent pressure from the local religious community. Lawyers demand explanation This prompted Omotoso's lawyers to write to mayor Princess Faku to demand an explanation for the cancellation, which they said constituted a breach of contract. The lawyers said this was an infringement on his freedom of speech and stated Omotoso was acquitted of all the charges. Having avoided jail, Omotoso is back behind the pulpit to preach the gospel. The Durban-based senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International has returned to reopen his church. He plans to visit East London, where his loyalists were said to be waiting for his arrival to begin the crusade. Omotoso acquitted He was arrested by the Hawks in 2017 along with two other fellow accused and charged with rape, sexual assault and human trafficking. ALSO READ: 'The system has failed us': Omotoso victims speak out following acquittal But Omotoso and his two co-accused were acquitted of all the charges on 2 April by the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha. The court found that the prosecuting team failed to present a solid case beyond a reasonable doubt. The National Prosecuting Authority was criticised for the poor handling of the case. The trial had been embroiled in controversy, particularly after a key witness was gunned down during the trial. The woman was shot day at close range in what some linked to the evidence she gave in court, but no arrest has yet been made. Trauma concerns Religious leaders in the city invited Omotoso to a meeting to discuss the crusade and voice their concerns about it. The church leaders said they were aware of legal matters surrounding Omotoso's case and what they called his 'technical acquittal', current investigations into his acquittal, possible reinstatement of the charges against him and his co-accused, and the pastor's likely deportation to Nigeria. 'We are concerned about the trauma and hurt caused to over 60 young adults who were allegedly abused, sexually assaulted, and humiliated. Their need for support and counselling is a priority,' the church leaders said. Omotoso could not be reached for comment. NOW READ: 'Stunned' NPA probing failures in Omotoso rape case as Batohi promises appeal decision soon
Daily Maverick
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Controversial pastor's ‘New Dawn' march stumbles as Buffalo City says he is not welcome
A crusade planned by controversial pastor Timothy Omotoso, acquitted on sexual assault and human trafficking charges earlier this month, has hit a snag. The mayor of Buffalo City, East London, has banned him from using any of the metro's properties for his services. Despite several attempts to obtain answers, the Department of Home Affairs still has not clarified on what basis Omotoso remains in South Africa. Controversial pastor Timothy Omotoso, fresh from a seven-year stint in prison while his trial was ongoing, has promised a 'New Dawn crusade' in East London. His followers, who refer to him as being 'resurrected' and their 'daddy', have eagerly awaited his return. However, Omotoso's plan has hit a snag with Buffalo City Mayor Princess Faku banning him from using any municipal properties for his services. The mayor's spokesperson, Bongani Fuzile, confirmed that the Orient Theatre booking, initially made for the crusade, would be cancelled. This is not the first time Omotoso's church, the Jesus Dominion International church has stirred controversy. In 2020, while Omotoso was in custody, congregants openly posted on social media that they were gathering during the Covid-19 lockdown. Congregants were also sharing screengrabs from a WhatsApp group where they claimed to have been healed from ailments like drooling on their pillows, itchy nipples and sore throats. Some claimed that they received payments of R900 or found employment after they were prayed for at the church. Judge Irma Schoeman in her ruling in which she acquitted Omotoso and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, of all the charges against them cited flaws in the prosecution's case, including almost no cross-examination challenging the versions of the accused as well as a lack of corroborating evidence led by the State. Schoeman summarised the evidence of one of the complainants in the case against Omotoso. She was 30 and living in East London when she started going to his church. 'She returned from Cape Town on her mother's insistence as she struggled with an alcohol addiction. She had seen videos of Omotoso where he healed people. One such video was about a child that was born without an oesophagus who was miraculously healed after Omotoso prayed for him. This video was played at church services, and many of the other complainants testified about this as well. (The complainant) started a business baking and selling cakes, muffins and bunny chows. She attended crusades in other centres and in 2015, at a crusade in East London, she acted as an usher. She was standing at the back of the church when Omotoso walked towards her. He spoke to her and gave her his telephone number,' the judgment reads. Schoeman continued that at a subsequent crusade Omotso shouted at the complainant 'for not texting him'. Destiny 'He told her that her destiny is at the mission house in Durban, and she should never offend him because he was God's favorite child and she must be obedient to (him) when she arrives at the mission house. She went to Durban after receiving money from Omotoso and upon arrival at the house she was shown a room where six other girls also stayed. She was taken to the bedroom of Omotoso and he said that there were girls inside the house that were satisfying themselves sexually with a shower, but it will never be the same as this, while pointing at his penis. In the lounge she saw Omotoso touching the girls' breasts, backsides and lifting their skirts; she was shocked and scared. Later that evening she was called to his room where he took her on his bed.' Schoeman then described a subsequent alleged sexual assault on the complainant and how Omotoso prayed afterwards. 'He then said a prayer, 'Lord forgive us, wash us with the blood of Jesus, write our names in the book of life.'' Schoeman said that given the way the case was prosecuted and how Omotoso's version of events, which denied this, were not challenged it was impossible to find him guilty of these offences. But now, East London's mayor Faku has said Omotoso is not welcome to use municipal buildings for his services. Fuzile confirmed that none of the Buffalo City metro properties would be used for the 'New Dawn' crusade. The Orient Theatre was originally booked but Fuzile said the booking would be cancelled. While there have been posts on social media saying that the municipality would face legal action over this decision, Fuzile said on Monday that they had not received anything from the church or Omotoso. 'Buffalo City Municipality has decided to cancel bookings at Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality's Orient Theatre hall made for a church crusade by Timothy Omotoso. The metro has stated clearly that all bookings made at municipal venues towards this event be cancelled and no single Buffalo City metro venue will be utilised for this church in all our three regions and villages. To combat Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), Buffalo City would not allow a person like Timothy Omotoso to hold his crusades in our city. 'The municipality is encouraged by the urgent call to revisit the court decision that acquitted Omotoso, who was charged with multiple counts of the rape of young girls in church, and allowing his church crusade in the municipality venue poses a risk to the safety of young girls in the city. The municipality remains a committed force in building a society where women and children feel safe in their surroundings,' he said. Omotoso and his followers had planned eight services and vigils from 4 May to 11 May 2025 in East London. Six years ago, after his arrest, the Nelson Mandela Bay metro shut down Omotoso's previous religious venture, the Jesus Dominion International church in Gqeberha, following ongoing protests by members of the ANC Women's League. The reason for the shutdown was that the building was being used illegally. Omotoso has not yet been reached for comment and none of the organisers of the crusade have yet responded to phone calls or WhatsApp messages. Nor has the Department of Home Affairs following questions sent last week. Last week spokesperson Siya Qoza promised to revert with answers on Omotoso, but has still not done so. It remains unclear on what basis Omotoso is staying in South Africa. He has previously been declared a prohibited person in South Africa, and the Department of Home Affairs refused to extend his work visa. Qoza confirmed that the pastor had not been deported and said the department was reviewing his status in the country. But according to a court order in possession of Daily Maverick, this should have been done at the latest by September 2024. This ruling was made on 11 June 2024 and gave the Department of Home Affairs 30 days from the date of service of the ruling by the sheriff to decide whether to extend Omotoso's work visa. Omotoso was refused a visa application on 14 September 2020 and subsequently declared a prohibited person in terms of section 29 of the Immigration Act, but went to court in February 2024, while his criminal trial was still ongoing, to have this set aside. During this court case the Department of Home Affairs conceded that their decisions in the Omotoso case should be reviewed and set aside. Omotoso's legal team argued that Home Affairs was refusing all his applications, that officials were assisting the National Prosecuting Authority to lay criminal charges against him, and that they were acting in bad faith. At the time Judge Donovan Pitt had made this specific timeframe an order of court to 'ensure that home affairs perform their functions'. Team bolstered Last week National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga indicated that they had 'bolstered' their team to review and decide whether to appeal the Omotoso finding. He said they had added a senior counsel to the team. Speaking earlier this month National Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Shamila Batohi said this team was led by the Special Director of Public Prosecutions: Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit, together with two seasoned prosecutors from outside the Eastern Cape Division, supported by external junior and senior counsel to explore, in the immediate term, grounds to appeal against the judgment. But according to Mhaga, another senior counsel had been added to the team. Batohi added that her team was also continuing the investigation into the conduct of the original team of prosecutors involved in the Omotoso matter. 'This investigation started in August 2024, with a view to identify, if necessary, disciplinary steps to be taken against persons involved. I have also established a second team led by the Special Director of Public Prosecutions: Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit and two prosecutors with extensive litigation experience to assess the performance of the prosecutors in the Omotoso matter in relation to case preparation, cross-examination techniques, and use of corroborating evidence, as raised by the trial judge,' she said. DM
