Timothy Omotoso
By Mpho Moloi
Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused, Lusanda Solani and Zikiswa Sitho, have been acquitted of all charges, including rape and human trafficking. The decision came on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at the Gqeberha High Court, where Judge Iram Schoeman delivered the verdict after nearly eight years of legal proceedings. The trio faced over 30 criminal charges, ranging from racketeering to sexual assault, in a case that gripped the nation with its shocking allegations and high-profile courtroom drama. The acquittal has sparked both celebration and outrage, leaving many questioning the justice system’s handling of such sensitive cases. This article dives deep into the case, exploring its background, trial details, and the broader impact on South African society.
The Long Road to the Verdict
Timothy Omotoso, the charismatic leader of the Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church, first made headlines in April 2017 when he was dramatically arrested at the Port Elizabeth International Airport—now known as Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport—by the Hawks, South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit. At the time, Omotoso was a prominent figure in the country’s Pentecostal community, known for his fiery sermons and promises of miracles. His church, with branches in South Africa, Nigeria, and Israel, attracted thousands of followers, many of whom were young women drawn by the prospect of spiritual and personal growth.
The charges against Omotoso and his alleged recruiters, Lusanda Solani and Zikiswa Sitho, were grave. The state accused them of running a criminal enterprise within the church, luring vulnerable young women with promises of blessings and opportunities, only to exploit them through trafficking and sexual abuse. The allegations painted a chilling picture of manipulation and control, with Omotoso at the centre of it all, allegedly using his authority as a “man of God” to prey on his followers.
The case took years to reach its conclusion, plagued by delays, legal challenges, and intense public scrutiny. By the time Judge Schoeman delivered her verdict in 2025, the nation had been watching closely, waiting to see if justice would be served for the alleged victims—or if Omotoso would walk free.
The Trial: A Battle of Evidence and Emotion
The trial, which began in 2018, was a rollercoaster of emotions and legal twists. The courtroom in Gqeberha was often packed, with supporters of both Omotoso and the alleged victims filling the benches. The state brought forward a series of witnesses, many of whom shared heartbreaking stories of abuse at the hands of Omotoso and his co-accused. Their testimonies were raw and detailed, shedding light on the inner workings of the JDI church and the alleged horrors that took place behind closed doors.
One of the most compelling parts of the trial centred on twin sisters Anele and Neliswa Makaza, who became key witnesses for the prosecution. The twins, who had once dreamed of stardom as participants in the South African singing competition Idols SA, told the court how they were drawn into Omotoso’s orbit through the Grace Galaxy Choir, a music group linked to his ministry. According to their testimony, they were initially rejected from the choir because they were only 17 years old. But later, a choir member reached out, and a woman named Fezeka informed them they had been accepted.
“They were told they had to go to the Mission House in uMhlanga to rehearse with a group,” Judge Schoeman recounted in her judgment. “They were still attending school, and accused one paid their school fees. They were in the same way individually called to an appointment where they were sexually assaulted.” After each assault, Omotoso allegedly prayed, “God have mercy on us,” a phrase that stuck with the twins as a haunting reminder of their ordeal. The abuse, they said, happened multiple times.
The twins also claimed that when they tried to leave the mission house, Omotoso cursed them, warning that “their body parts would be scattered all over and dogs would drink their blood in the streets.” He reportedly added that one sister would get pregnant and both would marry the same man—bizarre threats that underscored the fear he allegedly instilled in them.
The defense, however, poked holes in the state’s case. They pointed out inconsistencies in the twins’ accounts, including the fact that after Omotoso’s arrest, Anele and Neliswa were seen leading a group of girls protesting his innocence on television. The twins later explained that Lusanda Solani—referred to as “accused two”—had instructed them to “always protect accused one,” meaning Omotoso. Neliswa eventually came forward with her allegations, saying she “could not live with the guilt anymore.”
The twins’ mother, Gloria Rejoice Maxakaza, also took the stand, offering a mother’s perspective on the nightmare her daughters endured. She told the court she knew all three accused from the JDI church and that Fezeka had approached her to send the twins to Omotoso for music training. “I refused to do so,” she said, but the twins begged to go, and she eventually gave in. When they didn’t return home as planned, Gloria grew worried. She wasn’t allowed to see them, and when she spotted them at church, “they ran away when accused one appeared.” Desperate, she reported the matter to a police brigadier, only to be told “there’s nothing they could do about it.”
Judge Schoeman’s Verdict: A Matter of Proof
After years of testimony and legal arguments, Judge Iram Schoeman delivered her verdict on April 2, 2025. The courtroom was tense as she read through the state’s evidence, detailing the allegations of how Omotoso and his co-accused “lured, assaulted, and raped the victims.” But in the end, she ruled in favour of the accused.
“I view the explanations of the accused are improbable, and I don’t subjectively believe them,” Schoeman said. “However, due to the uncertainty of the actions of the state and the lack of proper cross-examination, I cannot find that the accused’s versions are so improbable that they cannot reasonably possibly be true.” She stressed that “the accused bore no onus to convince the court of their innocence” and concluded, “I am of the view, in the light of all the circumstances of the case, that the state has not proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The accused are found not guilty and are discharged on all the charges.”
As the words “not guilty” echoed through the room, a lone voice shouted “yes,” breaking the silence. For Omotoso and his co-accused, it was a moment of triumph after nearly a decade under the shadow of serious allegations.
Omotoso Speaks: Relief and Faith
Outside the court, Timothy Omotoso faced the media for the first time as a free man. Looking weary but relieved, he kept his remarks short. “The only thing I can say is I thank God,” he said. “Only God can speak to me when the time is right, but for now, I want to rest. It has been a long eight years.” His words reflected the toll the case had taken on him, both personally and publicly.
Meanwhile, his congregants erupted in celebration outside the court precinct. Dressed in bright colours, they sang hymns and danced, praising God for what they saw as a divine victory. To them, Omotoso remained a spiritual leader unjustly accused, and the acquittal was proof of his innocence.
The Grace Galaxy Choir and the Makaza Twins
The Grace Galaxy Choir played a pivotal role in the case, serving as the entry point for the Makaza twins’ involvement with Omotoso’s church. The choir wasn’t just a church group—it had a public profile, with several members, including the twins, auditioning for Idols SA. This connection to a popular TV show gave the choir a sense of glamour, making it an appealing prospect for young singers like Anele and Neliswa.
But behind the scenes, the twins alleged a much darker reality. After joining the choir, they were sent to the mission house in uMhlanga, a coastal town in KwaZulu-Natal known for its upmarket vibe. There, they claimed, their dreams of music were replaced with abuse and control. Their mother’s testimony backed up their story, painting a picture of a family torn apart by Omotoso’s influence.
Interestingly, the choir’s link to Idols SA wasn’t just a footnote. The show’s visibility may have helped Omotoso recruit other young women, using the promise of fame as bait. While the twins’ experience ended in trauma, their initial participation in the protests after Omotoso’s arrest showed how deeply his church could sway its members—until guilt drove Neliswa to speak out.
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