Home Affairs welcomes pastor Timothy Omotoso's return to Nigeria

JOHANNESBURG - The Department of Home Affairs has welcomed the departure of controversial Nigerian televangelist, Timothy Omotoso, touting his five-year ban from South Africa as an indicator of its tougher stance on immigration laws.

Omotoso is now on board a flight to Nigeria, following the department’s failure to successfully prosecute him for remaining in the country illegally.

The East London Magistrates Court released the 66-year-old this week, ruling that he could not be held for longer than 48 hours without formal charges after his rearrest last weekend.

The latest comes hot on the heels of another legal victory for the charismatic pastor after the Eastern Cape High Court acquitted him on rape and human trafficking charges in April, citing insufficient evidence by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
 
After years in and out of courtrooms, Omotoso is finally leaving South Africa, parting ways with thousands of loyal followers, as he boarded his flight back to Nigeria.

Despite being declared an undesirable person and barred from returning to South Africa, he'll have the option to reapply for a visa after five years.

For now, home affairs is calling his exit a win, saying it shows a renewed commitment to holding immigration law offenders accountable.

Head of immigration enforcement at home affairs, Steven van Neel: "We are quite happy that Omotoso has finally decided to leave the country. Him deciding to leave was good news we received yesterday. When he arrived this morning, we took him through immigration processing. What we found is that he is in possession of a valid Nigerian passport."

Omotoso's five-hour flight is expected to touch down in Nigeria later on Sunday evening.