Justice Ministry demands comprehensive report from NPA on Omotoso's acquittal

JOHANNEBSURG - The Justice Ministry has demanded a full report from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) following the acquittal of televangelist pastor Timothy Omotoso on multiple rape and human trafficking charges.

On Wednesday, the Gqeberha High Court ruled that the State failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, a decision that has sparked outrage and raised questions on how the prosecution handled the matter.

Omotoso, along with his co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho, both senior members of his church, were arrested in 2017 on multiple charges including sexual assault, human trafficking and racketeering.

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In line with Section 33 (a) of the NPA Act, NPA head Shamila Batohi must now provide a detailed account of what led to Omotoso walking free, and whether procedural failures played a role in the collapse of the case.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said she was deeply concerned about the handling of the prosecution, citing "apparent shortcomings" in the State’s case.

Delivering her judgment, High Court Judge Irma Schoeman ruled that former prosecutors acted improperly and did not adequately cross-examine the accused, adding that technical failures resulted in his acquittal.

The case itself was marred by delays, including Constitutional Court challenges, defence applications for a mistrial and witness fatigue.

Some survivors refused to testify after years of legal delays, leading to a reduction in charges from 63 to 32.

Kubayi said the outcome deals a heavy blow to the pursuit of justice for survivors of gender-based violence and that the NPA must take a more meticulous approach to prosecuting such cases.