
NPA insists it will pursue appeal against Omotoso acquittal despite legal missteps
Despite its failed attempt at gaining more insight into the high court's acquittal of controversial Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it would be going ahead with the appeal process.
And should its effort be rewarded with a second shot at the leader of the Jesus Dominion International Church and his two co-accused, the Department of Home Affairs has reportedly indicated it would waive his status as an 'undesirable person', lift his five-year ban from South Africa, and allow his extradition to stand trial.
In a brief court appearance on Tuesday, 22 July 2025, the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Gqeberha handed down Judge Irma Schoeman's judgment in respect of the NPA's application for her to provide more clarity on the factual findings that saw Omotoso, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho acquitted on multiple charges of sexual assault and human trafficking.
When Advocate Apla Bodlani SC brought the application last week, he indicated that the NPA had grounds on which it wished to appeal against the judgment, but it wanted Schoeman to provide a more detailed explanation of her findings to ensure its approach would be 'sustainable'.
Its application was met with much criticism from the defence, which accused the State of embarking on a 'fishing expedition' to build the basis for its appeal.
Normal procedure would entail the prosecution first lodging an official appeal, then approaching the judge for clarification on specific points raised in the appeal. In this case no appeal process has started, and it appears the State is asking for a blanket clarification of Schoeman's judgment as a whole.
In Schoeman's order, handed down on Tuesday, she agreed that her role in this matter was ' functus officio ' — that she had concluded her duties — and what the NPA was in essence looking for was an altered or supplemented judgment.
'Therefore, the State is not entitled to request clarification of facts prior to the lodging of an application for leave to appeal on a question of law,' Schoeman's judgment read.
During the trial, the accused were represented by Bay attorneys Peter Daubermann and Alwyn Griebenow. While Daubermann was in court last week to argue against the State's application, Griebenow attended proceedings on Tuesday. Afterwards, he said the judgment was not surprising.
'The rules on this sort of procedure are quite clear, and the NPA did not follow protocol. This application was doomed to fail from the start.'
Asked where his client currently resides, Griebenow said Omotoso went to Nigeria after his deportation, and he assumed that was where he remained.
NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said they had anticipated this outcome, but it would not deter them from proceeding with the appeal process.
'With respect, there was a misinterpretation of the case law we relied on as well as the intention of our request before the court.'
He said that in order for the NPA to properly draft its questions of law for an appeal it needed to identify factual findings that informed the judge's decision on the acquittal. Mhaga said they did not agree with her order that they must first lodge the appeal before seeking clarification.
'The judge said she cannot correct, alter or supplement her judgment. That was never our request. We wanted her to clarify her factual findings so that we can proceed to finalise the drafting of our questions of law.'
He further said they would move forward with the appeal process before the end of this week, and also, if necessary, prepare a condonation application as their appeal would be filed outside the allotted timeframe.
Upon leaving OR Tambo International Airport in May, Omotoso was named an 'undesirable person' and slapped with a five-year ban from South Africa.
When asked how this would affect the possible extradition of Omotoso should the appeal process be successful, Mhaga said the NPA had already approached the minister of home affairs who agreed to lift Omotoso's ban when the time came.
Mhaga also explained that the investigation into the alleged misconduct of several prosecutors involved in the matter, which ultimately laid the foundation for Omotoso's acquittal, was also ongoing.
'We expected to have received feedback on the findings of that investigation some time ago, but it seems that process is still ongoing and we are still awaiting an outcome,' Mhaga said. DM

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
44 minutes ago
- IOL News
Accused in Ekurhuleni Auditor's Murder Case Appears in Court
City of Ekurhuleni's group divisional head of corporate and forensic audits, Mpho Mafole, 47, died in a hail of bullets, in what appears to be an execution. Image: Facebook Thabani Goodwill Ntshalintshali, a 40-year-old man accused of murdering City of Ekurhuleni Senior Auditor, Mpho Mafole, appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates' Court today. Ntshalintshali faces charges of murder after Mafole was fatally shot on 30 June 2025, shortly after a work-related meeting. The case has been postponed to 15 August 2025 for further investigation. According to the State's allegations, Ntshalintshali followed Mafole after the meeting and subsequently shot him in Kempton Park. Mafole, a highly respected senior official in the City of Ekurhuleni, was declared dead at the scene. The police investigation was launched after a witness reported a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity shortly after the shooting. This tip led authorities to investigate further, ultimately leading to the identification of Ntshalintshali as the key suspect in the case. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ In addition to the murder charge related to Mafole's death, Ntshalintshali is facing another murder charge from an unrelated case, which is scheduled to go to trial on 12 and 19 August 2025. This has led to the State's decision to oppose his bail application, citing concerns over the seriousness of the charges against him. Ntshalintshali remains in custody pending his next court appearance. Phindi Mjonondwane, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Gauteng, commented on the case, emphasising the ongoing nature of the investigation. 'We are focused on thoroughly investigating the circumstances surrounding Mr. Mafole's death and ensuring that justice is served,' Mjonondwane said. 'We are exploring all avenues in this case, and further arrests cannot be ruled out as we gather more evidence.'Mafole's death has left a significant impact on the local community and his colleagues at the City of Ekurhuleni. Known for his dedication to transparency and effective public sector auditing, Mafole's passing has raised concerns about the safety of government employees, particularly in light of the violent nature of the crime. His colleagues have expressed deep sadness and shock over the incident, remembering him as a committed professional whose work had a profound impact on the city's operations. The tragic killing of Mafole has prompted calls for stronger measures to protect public servants, particularly those working in sensitive areas like financial oversight and auditing. Public servants who are involved in exposing corruption or fraud, like Mafole, can often find themselves at risk due to their roles. The murder has prompted public outcry and raised questions about the broader issue of public safety for officials in the government sector. As the investigation into Mafole's death continues, the NPA has assured the public that every effort is being made to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. The NPA has urged people with information about the case to come forward, assuring them that their information will be treated with the utmost confidentiality. Ntshalintshali's appearance today marks a critical step in the legal process, but the case is still in its early stages with a second trial pending in August.


eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
Court dismisses NPA request for clarification of Timothy Omotoso's acquittal
JOHANNESBURG - The Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha has dismissed the National Prosecuting Authority's request for clarification of Timothy Omotoso's acquittal. Earlier this year, Omotoso and his co-accused were acquitted on over 30 charges of rape, racketeering, sexual assault and human trafficking. The NPA sought insight into Judge Irma Schoeman's April ruling that cleared the Nigerian televangelist. Delivering her ruling, Schoeman says the state is not entitled to request clarification prior to lodging an application for leave to appeal the acquittal.


The Citizen
3 hours ago
- The Citizen
Murder-accused husband back in Nelspruit court for bail hearing
The Nelspruit Magistrate's Court was jam-packed again today, July 23, with family and friends of Dr Nondumiso Nkosi-Sibanyoni, as murder-accused Sifiso Vusimuzi Sibanyoni appeared for his bail hearing. Sibanyoni stands accused of premeditated murder and conspiracy to commit murder after his estranged wife was fatally shot in the parking lot of Virgin Active Gym Riverside at around 05:20 on November 20 last year. ALSO READ: Doctor fatally shot in Mbombela Protesters gathered outside the court, chanting 'No bail!' while the State and the defence cross-examined investigative officer Constable Sindisiwe Precious Nyaka of the SAPS Organised Crime Unit. The State asked Nyaka to confirm the two insurance payouts Sibanyoni received after his estranged wife's death. Nyaka confirmed that the first payment, R200 354, was received on February 4, 2024. A second amount of R1.5m was paid into his account on March 20, 2025. The court was also concerned about their children and where they are currently residing. Nyaka stated that the youngest is living with Nondumiso's parents, while the eldest remains with the accused. ALSO READ: Husband accused of Mbombela doctor's murder received R1.5m in insurance payout The State further questioned why Nyaka had not inquired about Sibanyoni's passport or whether he posed a flight risk. 'I did not inquire about his passport since he is a South African citizen,' she responded. The State also informed Nyaka that the accused had two protection orders against him – from his wife and his father-in-law. Nyaka admitted she was unaware of these and had only learnt of them in court. When the tables turned, Sibanyoni's lawyer challenged the charge of conspiracy to commit murder. 'There is no regional or high court that will accept this charge if the police cannot connect the accused with the killer,' Sibanyoni's lawyer disputed. He also questioned why no other arrests had been made, given that three State witnesses had allegedly taken part in the crime. Nyaka said she could not yet identify the witnesses or disclose the evidence. Sibanyoni's lawyer repeatedly pressed Nyaka to provide proof of the evidence, but she was unable to present or disclose anything to the court. The defence also asked when and why she had signed the insurance documents. Nyaka explained that she met with Sibanyoni and his lawyer on the day of the post-mortem and signed off on the papers, as she had no reason to suspect him at the time. ALSO READ: Mbombela hit-and-run: Court hears horrifying testimony from trauma doctor The defence returned to the State witness statements, which claim that the accused plans to interfere with the investigation if granted bail. Nyaka told the court she had a letter containing those statements and phone records of outgoing calls between the accused and the witnesses. However, when asked to produce audio evidence of the calls, she said she had none. Sibanyoni's bail hearing continues in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court tomorrow, July 24.