JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso departed South Africa on Sunday after being declared a “prohibited person” by the Department of Home Affairs, effectively banning his return for five years.
The self-proclaimed pastor boarded a flight to Nigeria from OR Tambo International Airport under police escort, ending a lengthy saga that included both criminal proceedings and immigration disputes.
Head of Immigration and Law Enforcement for Home Affairs, Stephen van Neel, confirmed Omotoso’s status as a prohibited person. “He is de-listed under two categories, meaning the first one is that he had a fraudulent permit before, and then he overstayed for an extensive time,” van Neel stated.
Home Affairs officials discovered that Omotoso had been flagged in their system during departure processing. Despite possessing a new Nigerian passport issued weeks ago, authorities determined he could not legally return to South Africa.
“The systems we used picked up that he has already been de-listed, meaning that he is not allowed to come back to the country,” van Neel explained.
Omotoso, founder of the Jesus Dominion International church based in Durban, was arrested in 2017 on more than 90 charges, including rape, human trafficking, and racketeering. He spent eight years behind bars before being acquitted last month by the Gqeberha High Court on 32 serious charges.
His acquittal sparked controversy after Judge Irma Schoeman criticized the prosecution’s handling of the case, citing inadequate cross-examination and failure to provide crucial evidence. The National Prosecuting Authority has since announced plans to appeal the verdict.
Following his acquittal, Omotoso was arrested on May 10 in East London for alleged immigration violations after Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber rejected his application to overturn his prohibited person status.
Department spokesperson Siya Qoza confirmed that after the five-year ban expires, Omotoso would need to apply for permission to re-enter South Africa, with officials evaluating any future application based on provided information and motivation.
Authorities are reportedly also investigating the immigration status of Omotoso’s wife, who remains in South Africa. Immigration officials have advised her to leave voluntarily or face potential legal action.
The case has generated significant public interest, with groups including the Economic Freedom Fighters and ActionSA supporting his deportation, while some religious organizations have defended the pastor.
