The Mayor of the Buffalo City Metro, Princess Faku, made a bold statement on Sunday, saying that the self-proclaimed prophet Timothy Omotoso was not welcome in her city.

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Omotoso who was recently acquitted of more than 30 charges of human trafficking, rape and sexual abuse after a trial lasting eight years, is hosting a crusade in East London running from the 4th-11th of May at the Orient Theatre in the city.

Mayor Faku took to social media on Sunday, saying that Omotoso would not be allowed to use any venue in the city, even if he paid for it.

Metro Spokesperson Bongani Fuzile said BCM decided to cancel the booking at the Orient Theatre, making it clear that all bookings made at municipal venues towards this event would be cancelled, including venues in eQonce and Komani, which form part of the greater Metro.

He says this decision was made to combat Gender-Based violence in the city.

Fuzile said the municipality is encouraged by the urgent call to revisit the court decision that acquitted Omotoso who was charged with multiple counts of rape of young girls in his church.

He said allowing his church crusade would pose a risk to the safety of young women in the metro.

Fuzile said the municipality remains committed to building a society where women and children feel safe.

The televangelist and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, were acquitted by Gqeberha High Court judge Irma Schoeman, who found that the state had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt after a trial lasting nearly eight years.

Earlier this week, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said it had appointed a senior counsel to bolster its internal team of sexual offences prosecutors who will assess and advise on the prospects of appealing the judgment in the Omotoso matter.

NPA spokesperson, advocate Mthunzi Mhaga, said this decision was “informed by the importance and the complexity of the matter, and the fact that the state can only appeal an acquittal judgment, in terms of Section 319 of the Criminal Procedure Act.”