By Thapelo Molefe
Controversial televangelist Timothy Omotoso was rearrested early Saturday morning in East London for alleged violations of South Africa’s Immigration Act.
National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, confirmed the arrest.
He said Omotoso was taken into custody around 5 a.m. as he was leaving a church service in the area and is currently being held at the Mdantsane police station.
“This morning in East London, this morning at 5 o’clock, members of the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Inspectorate together with the South African Police Service (SAPS), NIU (National Intervention Unit) and TRT (Tactical Response Team), they arrested Omotoso in the town just after the church,” said Masemola.
“He will be facing charges related to violation of the Immigration Act. He will appear in court on Monday. Home affairs will elaborate more on the charges, but he has been arrested for violation of the Immigration Act.”
In a media statement, the Department of Home Affairs said Omotoso’s arrest resulted from a law enforcement operation led by the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster.
It followed the Minister of Home Affairs’ decision to reject Omotoso’s application under Section 8(7) of the Immigration Act, which sought to overturn a prior ruling declaring him a prohibited person.
Omotoso is now deemed to be in South Africa illegally and is therefore subject to deportation, said the Department of Home Affairs.
The department further noted that Omotoso had previously challenged his prohibited status in court, which referred the matter back to the department for reconsideration.
Following what it described as a thorough review, the Minister upheld the original decision.
“In order to ensure compliance with the laws of the Republic, Omotoso is scheduled to appear in court on Monday, on charges of contravening provisions of the Immigration Act,” the Department said.
The arrest of Omotoso comes just over a month after his acquittal on 2 April, by the Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha.
He, along with co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, had faced 32 charges, including rape, human trafficking, and racketeering.
The court found that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt, citing inadequate cross-examination and mishandling of the case.
Omotoso is the founder and senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International, a church headquartered in Durban with branches in Nigeria and Israel.
He was initially arrested in April 2017 and spent nearly 8 years in custody awaiting trial.
The case garnered significant public attention, especially after key witness Cheryl Zondi testified in 2018 that Omotoso began sexually abusing her at the age of 14.
Her testimony was broadcast live, marking a first for a major rape case in South Africa.
Following the acquittal, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) head Shamila Batohi ordered a full report on the case, acknowledging widespread criticism of the prosecution’s handling.
In response to the court’s findings, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) issued a formal letter on 10 April, to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, calling for the NPA to account before Parliament.
“The prosecutor was unable to cross-examine the accused in any meaningful way, leaving the version of the accused unchallenged,” and further alleged that “the prosecutor coached witnesses to adhere to the version of the police statement, regardless of what other facts may arise in court,” stated the letter, signed by EFF’s Rebecca Mohlala.
The EFF warned that such prosecutorial failures could severely undermine public trust in the justice system.
“This could potentially erode the confidence of the public in the NPA, and lead to many other rapists escaping accountability for their actions, leaving thousands of victims of crime without any legal recourse.”
The party has urged Parliament to investigate the matter fully and ensure that “potential criminals are never let go again merely on the basis of the incompetence of State institutions.”
Omotoso is expected to appear in court on Monday to face newly filed immigration-related charges.
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