SAFTU calls for probe into NPA's handling of Timothy Omotoso's trial
The demand follows the acquittal of Omotoso and his two co-accused at the Gqeberha High Court on Wednesday.
Rape-accused Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused have been acquitted on all charges, including rape, racketeering, human trafficking, and assault. Picture: Sipha Kema
JOHANNESBURG - The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) has called for a full and public review of the police investigation and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)'s handling of the trial against Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused.
The demand follows the acquittal of the trio at the Gqeberha High Court on Wednesday.
They were cleared on all 32 charges of rape and human trafficking in a shock verdict handed down almost eight years after their arrest.
In a scathing judgment, the court found that the State failed to build a strong case against Omotoso, Lusanda Solani and Zukiswa Sitho.
Spokesperson for the NPA in the Eastern Cape, Luxolo Tyali, admitted that the trio got off on technicalities, with the scathing judgment adding the State prosecutors acted improperly and conducted poor cross-examination of the accused.
"The comments by the judge, which were directed at the conduct of the NPA prosecutors, cannot be ignored. It is for that reason that when the judgment is being studied, the leadership will also see if there is any action to take against the prosecutors against whom these allegations by the judge were being made," said Tyali.