Controversial pastor Timothy Omotoso arrested on immigration charges in East London

On the second last day of his “New Dawn Crusade” Nigerian Pastor Timothy Omotoso was arrested at the church where he was meant to preach tonight.

The church, in Commissioner Street, East London (behind the McDonalds, as his followers had pointed out) had been the venue for a week-long “New Dawn” crusade widely advertised on social media for the past week.

The crusade started on May 4, a month after Judge Irma Schoeman had acquitted Omotoso on charges of sexual assault and human trafficking, releasing him from a seven year stint in prison awaiting trial.

In her ruling she explained how prosecutors had botched the state’s case due to incompetent cross-examination and a failure to lead corroborative evidence.The National Prosecuting Authority first indicated that Omotoso would be deported “immediately” but he walked out of the court cells a free man.

The NPA is still investigating whether there are grounds to appeal the ruling and recently added another senior counsel to the team reviewing the case.

Omotoso was declared a prohibited person by the Department of Home Affairs while in prison but went to court citing that they were biased and working with the National Prosecuting Authority.

In 2024 Acting Judge Donovan Pitt ordered the Department of Home Affairs to review the decision to have him declared a prohibited person.

Despite this he was released from prison. Home Affairs officials were originally sent to arrest him at the court but they arrived too late and he had already left. The court adjourned at 11 am and they only arrived at 1 pm. Omotoso however was not in hiding and openly set up the “New Dawn” Crusade at the Jesus Dominion International Church  in East London where he has been preaching since May 4.

The executive mayor of Buffalo City, Princess Faku, stopped the municipality from renting out the Orient Theatre to him but the church found a private venue. Pictures emerged on social media this week showing hundreds of people attending the New Dawn Crusade led by Omotoso.

Fervent followers of Omotoso even invited President Cyril Ramaphosa to the crusade that was supposed to end tomorrow.

But this morning at 5 am Omotoso was arrested. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed the arrest.  Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said they themselves are not sure what exactly the charges were and were waiting to hear from the Department of Home Affairs.

Masemola however confirmed that members of the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Inspectorate and the SAPS, including the two highly trained units- the National Intervention Unit and the Tactical Response Team, arrested Omotoso at 5 am this morning “just after church.”

He will be facing charges relating to the violation of the Immigration Act and will appear in court on Monday.

Apart from a perfunctory answer two weeks ago that they were reviewing Omotoso’s right to remain in the country, the Department of Home Affairs’ Director of Communications, Siya Qoza has steadfastly refused to answer any questions, including on what basis Omotoso is allowed to stay in the country, and why the Department had not arrested the pastor at court despite eight requests since April 22.

At noon on Saturday the Department of Home Affairs confirmed in an official statement  that Minister Leon Schreiber had rejected Omotoso's previous application to have the decision to declare him as a prohibited person reversed.

According to the Home Affairs statement this means that Omotoso can now be deported. The statement confirmed that Omotoso will appear in court in East London on Monday.

Omotoso’s arrest triggered outrage on social media including posts that the South African authorities were “fighting God himself.”

Christian of South Africa (COSA) said in a statement that Omotoso had presided at a “spiritually electrifying vigil” on Friday night. They called on the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, to account for the “abuse of power” saying that Omotoso’s papers were in order according to the Nigerian Consulate.

“This so-called immigration-related arrest is nothing short of a politically charged persecution, an attack on religious freedom and a flagrant abuse of state power,” the statement continues.

“This arrest is not about documentation. It is about silencing a prophetic voice. Reverend Omotoso is being targeted not for what he has done but for what he represents - a rising tide of spiritual authority that threatens the status quo,” the statement concluded.

It is understood from Brother Obed Molemo from COSA, who also authored the statement, that after Omotoso was released from prison he had presented himself to the Nigerian Consulate to rectify and formalise his status in South Africa. DM