South African Group Demands Deportation Of Nigerian Pastor Acquitted Of R@pe Charges

Sobechi Obasi3 weeks ago

0 2 minutes read

South African political party ActionSA has called for the immediate deportation of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, following his acquittal on r@pe and human trafficking charges by the Gqeberha High Court.

The Gqeberha High Court released Omotoso, the 66-year-old senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International Church, along with co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, on Wednesday, April 2, after they spent eight years in detention.

Arrested in 2017, Omotoso faced multiple charges, including r@pe, s£xual assault, and human trafficking, involving young women—some reportedly underage—and members of the gospel group Grace Galaxy. Authorities eventually shut down his Port Elizabeth-based church amid public outrage and mass protests.

According to IOL, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) is reviewing its options in light of the court’s ruling.

NPA spokesperson Luxolo Tyali acknowledged the toll the protracted legal process had taken on the complainants, many of whom chose not to proceed due to the trauma and duration of the case.

“Some witnesses no longer wanted to testify, as they indicated they had moved on with their lives and were unwilling to relive their experiences in court,” Tyali said.

Though no official confirmation has been made, multiple reports suggest that Omotoso may be deported to Nigeria following the court’s decision.

In a strongly worded statement, ActionSA, founded by former Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, condemned Omotoso’s continued presence in South Africa and accused him of exploiting religion for personal gain.

“ActionSA firmly opposes the infiltration of South Africa by dubious entrepreneurs and self-proclaimed ‘biblepreneurs’ who prey on hard-working and unsuspecting citizens,” the party said. Accusers have specifically named Omotoso in allegations of heinous crimes, including human trafficking, s£xual assault, and racketeering involving vulnerable women and underage children.

The party described the pastor’s acquittal as a devastating blow to victims and a serious failure of the country’s criminal justice and immigration systems. The group demanded that authorities add Omotoso and his associates to the national s£x offenders’ register, bar them from accessing vulnerable groups, and strip them of their residency status.

“South Africa cannot be a refuge for those who exploit and harm its people,” ActionSA concluded.

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