Pastor Omotoso leaves SA and banned for five years
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JOHANNESBURG - Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso has left South Africa for his home country, Nigeria.
A flight carrying him to Lagos departed from OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday.
Omotoso was first arrested back in 2017 facing 32 charges including rape, human trafficking and racketeering. He was accused of these crimes with two other women from his church.
In April, the three were acquitted of all charges by Judge Irma Schoeman in the Gqeberha High Court.
The televangelist was re-arrested earlier in May for immigration related matters.
He was then freed after a court ruled that Home Affairs didn't follow proper arrest procedures
Home Affairs says the controversial pastor is not allowed to return to South Africa for the next five years.
Motoso was expected to mount a legal challenge of his own against the Department of Home Affairs following the court ruling on his rearrest over immigration matters.
The department said they have declared Omotoso as a prohibited and undesirable person in South Africa.
The televangelist will only be able to reapply to come back to SA after five years. Home affairs said this was emphasised and accordingly communicated with Omotoso.
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