Prominent Nigerian televangelist and founder of Jesus Dominion International Church, Pastor Timothy Omotoso, has been arrested by South African authorities for alleged violations of the country’s Immigration Act.
The arrest was confirmed on Saturday by the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, in a short video shared on the official SAPS X (formerly Twitter) handle.
According to General Masemola, the arrest was carried out by officials of the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Inspectorate, in collaboration with the SAPS’ National
Intervention Unit (NIU) and Tactical Response Team (TRT). Pastor Omotoso was taken into custody in the early hours of Saturday morning— around 5:00 a.m.-shortly after a church service in East London, Eastern Cape Province.
“The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola, confirms the arrest of televangelist Timothy Omotoso this morning in East London by the Department of Home Affairs Immigration Inspectorate, together with the SAPS’ National Intervention Unit (NIU) and Tactical Response Team (TRT), on charges related to the Immigration Act,” the SAPS post read.
General Masemola noted that Omotoso is expected to appear in court on Monday, adding that the Department of Home Affairs will provide additional details concerning the nature of the charges.
This development comes just weeks after the 66-year-old cleric was acquitted of long-standing charges of rape and human trafficking. The controversial case, which began in 2017, saw Omotoso accused of exploiting young women— including members of the church’s gospel group, Grace Galaxy, and underage girls-for sexual purposes.
After a protracted legal battle, a South African court dismissed the charges against him in April 2025, citing insufficient evidence.