The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has been granted leave by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to challenge the acquittal of Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso and his two co-accused.
Omotoso, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho were acquitted on 32 charges, including rape, sexual assault, human trafficking and racketeering, following a lengthy trial in the Gqeberha High Court.
The decision marks a significant development after the NPA's initial application for leave to appeal was dismissed by the Gqeberha High Court in April last year.
Omotoso was first arrested in 2017 after several women associated with his church came forward with allegations of sexual abuse and other offences.
Following his acquittal, he was re-arrested in May on immigration-related charges. However, he was later released after the court ruled that the Department of Home Affairs had failed to follow the correct legal procedures during his arrest.
Later that month, the Department of Home Affairs deported Omotoso to Nigeria and declared him an undesirable person, preventing him from returning to South Africa for a period of five years.
The Supreme Court of Appeal's decision means the NPA will now have the opportunity to argue why the acquittal should be reconsidered, with further legal proceedings expected to follow.