By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The South African Police Services (SAPS) in Eastern Cape has re-arrested Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, after he was acquitted of 32 sexual assault-related charges last month.
SAPS National Spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed the arrest, saying Home Affairs will communicate the arrest of Omotoso.
“This morning in East London at about 5am, the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Inspectorate, together with the South African Police Service, arrested Omotoso in the town just after the church.”
“He will be facing charges relating to the violation of the Immigration Act,” Mathe said.
He is being held at Mdantsane police station. It comes just weeks after his acquittal on charges of rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
After spending eight years in jail, a Nigerian televangelist accused of raping young women from his church was not found not guilty of all charges.
Omotoso had denied the 32 charges in a trial that was broadcast live and gained huge interest across the country.
The NPA said it would “consider its legal options” and that the drawn-out nature of the trial was partly down to Omotoso filing numerous legal challenges.
His co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zikiswa Sitho, were also found not guilty.
Omotoso was dramatically arrested at an airport in 2017 as he sought to leave the country.
His trial was the first prominent rape case to be broadcast live in a country where sexual violence is rampant.
The hearings attracted huge interest, and raised difficult questions about victims’ rights, impartiality and whether justice is best served by having television cameras in courtrooms.