The Mayor of Buffalo City Metro, Princess Faku, made a bold statement on Sunday, declaring that self-proclaimed prophet Timothy Omotoso is not welcome in her city. Omotoso, recently acquitted of over 30 charges including human trafficking, rape, and sexual abuse after an eight-year trial, is hosting a crusade in East London from May 4th to 11th at the Orient Theatre.
In response, Mayor Faku took to social media on Sunday, stating that Omotoso would not be allowed to use any municipal venue, even if he paid for it. Metro Spokesperson Bongani Fuzile confirmed that the BCM had cancelled the booking at the Orient Theatre, adding that all bookings for municipal venues related to the event, including those in eQonce and Komani, would also be cancelled. The decision was made in the interest of combating Gender-Based Violence in the city.
Fuzile explained that the municipality was encouraged by calls to revisit the court’s decision to acquit Omotoso, who faced multiple rape charges involving young girls in his church. He emphasized that allowing Omotoso’s church crusade would jeopardize the safety of young women in the area. Fuzile reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to creating a society where women and children feel safe.
Omotoso and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, were acquitted by Judge Irma Schoeman of the Gqeberha High Court, who ruled that the state had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt after nearly eight years of trial.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has since appointed a senior counsel to join its team of sexual offences prosecutors to evaluate and advise on the potential appeal of the acquittal. NPA spokesperson, advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, explained that this decision was driven by the complexity of the case and the legal limitation of appealing an acquittal under Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
