Following his acquittal on r@pe charges by the Gqeberha High Court, South African political organization ActionSA has demanded the deportation of Timothy Omotoso, a Nigerian televangelist based in South Africa.
After eight years in custody, Omotoso was released on Wednesday, April 2, along with his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho.
Omotoso, 66, the senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International Church in South Africa, was accused of raping and trafficking young women, including school-aged girls and members of the gospel group Grace Galaxy.
Omotoso was arrested in 2017 and charged with a number of offenses, including human trafficking and sexual assault.
After irate mobs gathered outside his church in the seaside city of Port Elizabeth to protest, it was eventually closed.
The South African news agency IOL reports that the National Prosecuting Authority is weighing all of its options in order to provide the complainants with justice.
Luxolo Tyali, the NPA spokesperson, clarified that witness participation had been impacted by the drawn-out court proceedings.
“The delays caused some witnesses to no longer want to proceed with giving evidence, as they indicated they have since moved on with their lives and are not interested in reliving their experiences in court,” Tyali stated.
Despite the lack of official confirmation, reports also indicate that Omotoso will be deported to Nigeria after being found not guilty.
Meanwhile, Omotoso’s immediate departure from South Africa has been demanded by ActionSA, a political organization established by former Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba.
The group insisted that Omotoso had no place in the nation and denounced those who take advantage of faith for their own benefit in a statement.
“ActionSA firmly opposes the infiltration of South Africa by dubious entrepreneurs and self-proclaimed ‘biblepreneurs’ who prey on hard-working and unsuspecting citizens. These individuals exploit faith and desperation, robbing people of their innocence and hard-earned money,” the statement read.
“Our concern lies with those who, like Timothy Omotoso, have entered our country and swiftly become entangled in criminal activities,” the statement continued.
“Omotoso, in particular, has been accused of heinous crimes, including human trafficking, sexual assault, and racketeering involving vulnerable women and underage children.”
Describing his acquittal as “a devastating blow to victims and a glaring indictment of our immigration services, the criminal justice system, and the National Prosecuting Authority’s ongoing failure to deliver justice”, ActionSA emphasised the need for accountability.
The group also called for Omotoso and his associates to be removed from any positions that allow them to interact with vulnerable people and added to the national sex offenders’ registry.
“Furthermore, we call on immigration authorities to revoke Omotoso’s residency status and immediately deport him to Nigeria. South Africa cannot be a refuge for those who exploit and harm its people,” the statement concluded.
