UDEMWO welcomes Timothy Omotoso’s arrest
Media Statement by Thandi Nontenja, MP and UDEMWO Secretary General
The United Democratic Movement Women’s Organisation (UDEMWO) welcomes the arrest of controversial pastor Timothy Omotoso on immigration-related charges.
We sincerely hope that this time, the law will take its full and proper course and that the arrest will not become another example of impunity disguised as religious expression.
Women and girls across South Africa watched in disbelief as Omotoso, who was recently acquitted on serious charges of sexual assault and human trafficking, returned to public life with astonishing speed. That acquittal, which came after a seven-year detention, was not the result of his exoneration but rather a consequence of poor prosecution and a failure to present key evidence.
His highly publicised return to preaching through the so-called New Dawn Crusade has been deeply distressing to survivors of gender-based violence and to all those who believe in justice and accountability.
UDEMWO calls on the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service to pursue this matter with diligence and transparency. The public deserves to know the legal basis for Omotoso’s continued presence in the country, and all actions taken must reflect the seriousness of the charges and circumstances.
Far too often, South Africa has become a refuge for foreign religious leaders who exploit their positions of influence to prey on the vulnerable.
Figures like Shepherd Bushiri and Timothy Omotoso, both of whom have faced serious allegations of rape and sexual abuse, are emblematic of a dangerous trend where charismatic authority is used to shield criminal behaviour. These individuals manipulate faith to gain trust, silence victims, and avoid accountability. South Africa must tighten its immigration and regulatory frameworks to ensure that those who claim to lead in faith do not use our hospitality as a cover for predation and impunity. The pulpit must never become a hiding place for perpetrators.
Furthermore, gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) has reached crisis levels in our country. The fact that a woman is murdered every three hours is not merely a statistic. It is a national shame and a painful indictment of our collective failure to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. This crisis demands urgent, coordinated, and uncompromising action from all sectors of government and civil society. South Africa cannot claim to be a free and just society while women live in fear, suffer in silence, or are silenced by violence.
In the end, no person is above the law, regardless of their religious title or popularity. South Africa must not allow religious platforms to become sanctuaries for those accused of abuse.
We hope that this arrest marks a turning point. Let justice be done, and this time, let it be done without fear, favour or interference. No backroom deals, favours or corrupt acts must allow Mr Omotoso to escape the full might of the law.
