A South African court cleared Nigerian televangelist Tim Omotoso of all charges on Wednesday, bringing an end to an eight-year legal ordeal concerning allegations of raping and sexually abusing several young women from his church.
The Eastern Cape High Court, led by Judge Irma Schoeman, concluded that the prosecution had mishandled the case against the 66-year-old pastor, who is the head of the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church in South Africa. Omotoso had been arrested in 2017, facing charges including sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
Following the ruling, Omotoso was seen kneeling in the courtroom, seemingly praying after being acquitted of all charges.
Judge Schoeman stated that while the pastor’s explanations appeared unlikely, the prosecution had not met the burden of proof required to convict him. The case against Omotoso’s two assistants, who were also facing charges, was also dismissed.
“The accused are found not guilty and are discharged on all the charges,” the judge declared.
Several women testified against Omotoso, claiming they were selected by him for sexual encounters, often followed by prayers for forgiveness. Some of these women were part of a gospel group called Grace Galaxy, formed by Omotoso, while others were still in school, according to the court.
Outside the courthouse in Gqeberha, dozens of women demonstrated against the verdict, highlighting the country’s ongoing battle with high levels of sexual violence. This comes amid growing concern over gender-based violence in South Africa, where the recent alleged rape of a seven-year-old girl at school has sparked nationwide protests.
According to police statistics, South Africa recorded 42,500 rapes during the 2023-24 financial year.
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