Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has sharply criticised the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) following the court’s decision to acquit Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused of all charges, including rape, human trafficking, and racketeering.
Justice Minister issues scathing reaction to Timothy Omotoso ruling
The judgment, delivered at the Gqeberha High Court, concluded that the State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Judge Irma Schoeman noted serious flaws in how the prosecution handled the matter, especially pointing out that the accused were not properly cross-examined.
In court, cross-examination is the process of questioning a witness or accused to test their version of events.
The judge said that although she found the accused’s story unlikely, the law requires certainty before anyone can be found guilty.
Following the ruling, Minister Kubayi invoked section 33(a) of the NPA Act to demand a full explanation from the National Director of Public Prosecutions.
This legal step allows the Minister to request a detailed report on how the case was managed.
“I have decided to Evoke Sec 33(a) of the NPA Act in relation to the Omotoso and others case,” the Minister announced in a statement issued Thursday.
“We need accountability and to understand where and how this case was handled so poorly.”
Kubayi expressed concern that this high-profile failure may weaken public trust in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
“We cannot afford to let victims down, especially in cases as serious as this,” she added.
Timothy Omotoso deportation confirmed by NPA
Omotoso, who is in South Africa illegally, will be deported to Nigeria, according to the NPA.
This comes after his acquittal alongside co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, both of whom were also cleared of all charges.
The NPA acknowledged that the court outcome was a blow, stating that the delays and complications over the eight-year trial had led to some witnesses pulling out.
These delays were partly due to repeated legal actions from Omotoso’s defence team. Some witnesses said they no longer wanted to relive the trauma.
Despite the verdict, the NPA maintains it acted on credible allegations brought forward by former church members and victims. However, the outcome means the case is now closed, and none of the accused can be tried again for the same charges.
Omotoso is expected to be handed over to immigration authorities for deportation procedures. The exact timeline for this process has not yet been made public.
The case, which began in 2017, involved shocking claims of abuse, manipulation, and exploitation within the Jesus Dominion International Church.
