After more than seven years of legal proceedings, controversial Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso has left South Africa. A flight carrying Omotoso departed OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, en route to Lagos, Nigeria.
Omotoso, the leader of Jesus Dominion International Church, was first arrested in 2017 by the Hawks at the Port Elizabeth International Airport. His arrest made national headlines as he faced 32 charges, including rape, human trafficking, and racketeering. Two female co-accused, Zukiswa Sitho and Lusanda Sulani—both former members of his church—were also arrested in connection with the case.
The charges followed allegations that Omotoso and his associates recruited young women under the pretense of religious mentorship, only to allegedly subject them to sexual and psychological exploitation. The case became one of South Africa’s most closely watched trials, drawing widespread condemnation and demands for justice, particularly from gender-based violence advocacy groups.
The trial, however, faced numerous delays due to legal technicalities, judicial recusals, and protracted witness testimonies. These setbacks not only prolonged the case but also raised concerns about the effectiveness of South Africa’s justice system in prosecuting high-profile sexual violence matters.
The Department of Home Affairs confirmed that Omotoso’s legal residency in South Africa had expired, making his continued stay unlawful. His departure comes after the department declared him an “undesirable person” under the Immigration Act, barring him from re-entering the country for at least five years.
While Omotoso’s legal representatives insist his exit was voluntary, civil society groups have expressed frustration, arguing that the lack of a verdict denies justice to the alleged victims. “We are deeply disappointed that the trial never reached a conclusion. This leaves survivors without closure,” said a representative from Women Rise, an Eastern Cape-based NGO.
It remains uncertain whether South African authorities will pursue extradition in the future. For now, Omotoso—once infamously referred to as “the pastor in chains”—has left South Africa, his case ending without resolution and his alleged victims still awaiting answers.