Tensions mount at Omotoso court appearance

Omotoso was set to appear in court on immigration charges.

He was re-arrested on Saturday for alleged violations of the South African immigration law.

Omotoso was released in April, eight years after he was jailed to be tried on charges of raping and sexually assaulting several young women from his church.

His acquittal drew anger across South Africa after the judge found that, while the pastor's explanations appeared improbable, state prosecutors had mishandled the case against him.

Speaking to SABC News, Pastor Bulelani Phalezweni said the protest outside the court was meant to ensure that the court works hand in hand with the Department of Home Affairs.

"We are happy that finally he (Omotoso) was unable to avoid the hand of the law. When we think about this case and how it was handled, we are not very happy but we have a responsibility especially as the pastors, because this is a movement, it started here in East London and it's going to be all over the country, ours is simple, we want to protect the good name of our country, protecting vulnerable women and girls of our country, protecting the cloth, protecting the word reverend or pastor.

"We are happy that finally our government has listened to us, law and justice is going to prevail."

Meanwhile, members of the African National Congress and the Economic Freedom Fighters were also at court, demanding that Omotoso be deported to his home country.

Speaking to SABC News, EFF central command team member Inam Kula said Omotoso had no place in the country.

"We are here as the Economic Freedom Fighters alongside the clergy, traditional leaders, other political parties, and the community at large of BCM to oppose the presence of Timothy Omotoso.

"I think we're all aware that Timothy Omotoso got away due to technicalities and not that he was innocent. So what we're saying is that it speaks to a larger question of the injustices of the justice system, and so we want to say that we stand in support of victims of gender-based violence. We want the judiciary and also the government to look into the structural inefficiencies of the justice system."

Kula added that the EFF will not stop protesting against gender-based violence.

"We're going to put the gas on the pedal, we're going to be here as the Economic Freedom Fighters because what we need to understand is that gender-based violence is violence and it must be met with the same amount of violence that it is."

Meanwhile, the media and the public were barred from attending the court proceedings.

ANC Youth League regional chairperson, Ondela Sokomani, said they want to know why no one was allowed to be present in court.

"We would, during the course of the day, we will inquire from those who have the know-how in terms of the legalities, in terms of the proceedings of how the court operates, to further explain to us as to what has led to this now being treated as an inquiry as opposed to a bail application. However, that has not changed.

"We are unflinching in our stance in relation to Omotoso not having a space within our societies to operate.

"We do hope that the court will handle with care and be meticulous in its handling of the facts and proving its case beyond reasonable doubt to ensure that Timothy Omotoso is brought to book and is incarcerated, and if need be, be deported to his own country of birth."

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