Justice not done? – NPA launches explosive appeal in Omotoso case

Omotoso

Cape Town – The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Eastern Cape will appeal the Gqeberha High Court’s decision to acquit Nigerian pastor Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho, of 32 serious charges including rape, racketeering, and human trafficking.

According to SABC News, in April, Judge Irma Schoeman found that the state had not sufficiently proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, the guilt of Omotoso and his co-accused on more than 30 charges, including rape and human trafficking.

The NPA, led by Director of Public Prosecutions Barry Madolo, made the decision after consulting senior legal counsel and a team of experienced prosecutors.

Spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the matter’s complexity and extensive transcripts delayed the decision.

“The decision could not be rushed due to the complexity of the matter and the voluminous transcript that needed to be interrogated,” The Citizen quoted him as saying.

He added: “The first step in this process is to request that the judge clarify factual findings.

“Once a clarification of the factual findings is received from the Judge, the NPA’s legal team will finalise the papers on the reservation of questions of law and file this application with the Registrar of the High Court.”

An internal investigation into both the initial and subsequent NPA prosecution teams has also been launched, with a report expected by June 2025.

The NPA acknowledged the judgment’s negative impact on victims and public confidence in the justice system, affirming its commitment to combatting sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

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