‘Release Omotoso and arrest me!’

May 12, 2025

‘Release Omotoso and arrest me!’

Arguments are being heard in the case of human trafficking accused pastor Timothy Omotoso for a special entry to be made in the court file with regard to the defence’s disgruntlement with how the prosecution has handled the matter to date. This means, should Omotoso and his co-accused be convicted, the defence has a leg to stand on for an appeal. While the case was being heard a large crowd was picketing outside the court building.
Picture Eugene Coetzee

https://x.com/mbalidlungwana/status/1921848938606338183

“SOUTH Africa, unenzeni umprophet ka Nkunkulu uTim Omotoso.”

This is the question that Grace Mkhwanazi, a member of the church of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, who is based in the Durban branch in Ballito, asked.

Grace from Umlazi, south of Durban, recorded a video of herself asking what her pastor has done to the people of Mzansi.

In the one-minute and 53-second video, Grace appeals that the police should release her pastor and arrest her instead of him.

She said that when they arrest her, she won’t refuse.

She begs the cops who arrested Omotoso to do themselves a favour by releasing him.

Grace said she is a member of Omotos’s church in Ballito, Durban. The Nigerian televangelist was re-arrested on Saturday, 10 May, in East London, where he had been leading a new dawn crusade.

National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola said Omotoso was arrested on Saturday and the charges relate to the violation of the Immigration Act.

He said the members of Home Affairs and police arrested Omotoso.

“He will appear in court on Monday, and everybody will know what charges he is facing, but it is immigration-related matters,” he said.

Masemola said the department will elaborate more on the charges in due course.

Omotoso and his co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, were arrested in April 2017 and were facing charges including rape, sexual assault and human trafficking allegedly committed in the Eastern Cape where Omotoso led a church in Gqeberha.

After a lengthy trial, the Gqeberha High Court acquitted the accused in April 2025.

In her ruling, the high court Judge Irma Schoeman said the state had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.