ActionSA has added its voice to the growing outrage following the acquittal of televangelist Timothy Omotoso, calling on the Department of Home Affairs to initiate his deportation without delay. The call comes after the Eastern Cape High Court found Omotoso and his co-accused not guilty on 32 charges related to sexual abuse, trafficking, and racketeering—on what ActionSA describes as a technicality rather than a test of guilt or innocence.
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba described the court ruling as a “gross failure of the justice system” and said that the outcome has re-traumatized survivors who had already endured an extended trial process marked by delays and legal challenges.
“We believe that it is unjust and unconscionable that a person with such serious allegations walks free based on procedural technicalities,” Mashaba said in a statement. “It is time that the Department of Home Affairs shows courage by revoking his visa or residence status and deporting him to Nigeria.”
Omotoso, a Nigerian national and controversial religious figure, has lived in South Africa for years and led the Jesus Dominion International Church. His trial, which began in 2017, faced multiple delays due to interlocutory applications and constitutional challenges. Ultimately, the presiding judge ruled that key witnesses had not been adequately cross-examined during earlier stages, rendering the prosecution process flawed.
ActionSA further said that the case highlights the urgent need to reform South Africa’s criminal justice system to prevent high-profile individuals from escaping accountability through legal loopholes.
“It is not only a legal matter, it is a moral one,” said Mashaba. “The South African state must act decisively to protect women and children from predatory behaviour—especially from individuals who hold positions of power and influence.”
The party has also released a video statement on its official YouTube channel, reiterating its stance and vowing to push for parliamentary and legal interventions to ensure that non-citizens accused of serious crimes are not allowed to remain in the country under the guise of residency.
ActionSA urged the public to support victims and continue demanding systemic change that prioritises the rights and dignity of survivors over technicalities and prolonged legal processes.
