A South African court has acquitted Nigerian televangelist Tim Omotoso of all 32 charges against him, including rape, sexual exploitation, and human trafficking, after an eight-year-long legal battle.
The 66-year-old senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International (JDI) was arrested in 2017 over allegations that he sexually assaulted multiple young women from his church. However, Judge Irma Schoeman of the Eastern Cape High Court ruled on Wednesday that prosecutors had failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Despite describing Omotoso’s explanations as “improbable,” Schoeman criticized the state’s mishandling of the case, leading to his acquittal alongside two co-accused.
“The accused are found not guilty and are discharged on all the charges,” she declared.
Omotoso, visibly emotional, fell to his knees and appeared to pray as the verdict was read out.
The case had drawn significant public attention, with women who testified alleging that Omotoso handpicked them for abuse, often praying for forgiveness after the encounters. Some accusers were minors or members of the church’s gospel group, Grace Galaxy.
With South Africa grappling with high rates of sexual violence, dozens of protesters gathered outside the court in Gqeberha to condemn the ruling. The verdict comes amid heightened public outcry over the country’s handling of rape cases. On Tuesday, thousands rallied across cities, demanding justice after a seven-year-old girl was allegedly raped at school last year, with no arrests made.
According to police data, South Africa recorded 42,500 rape cases in the 2023-24 financial year, reinforcing concerns over the justice system’s ability to protect victims.
