Bishop Makamu made the headlines in May 2021 after an explicit recording surfaced online. In it, he can be heard making sexual advances at a woman on the other end of the line.

MojaLove television show presenter Bishop Israel Makamu has been arrested.

This comes exactly a week after a 21-year-old woman opened a case of sexual assault against Makamu at the Midrand Police Station last Wednesday.

A source close to the woman revealed that the family was alerted to his arrest on Wednesday morning.

“We were supposed to meet with Makamu and his delegation at around 10.30am but, before we could touch base with his people, we got a call from the investigating officer to say that he had been arrested,” the source said.

A detective in charge of the case confirmed his arrest.

“He is still at the police station with his lawyer. He is going to apply for bail today at the Palmridge Magistrates’ Court.”

Makamu made headlines a fortnight ago after a recording surfaced on the internet in which he is heard making sexual advances to a woman on the other end of the line.

The woman was allegedly 17 at the time.

She opened the case accompanied by her brother and Movement Against Abuse in Churches founder Solomon Ashoms, who has been alongside the family since the sound recording surfaced.

The father of the woman, whose identity will be hidden because she is an alleged victim of sexual assault, told City Press that the popular Endless Hope Church pastor attempted to have sex with his daughter at his church premises in 2017.

“He tried to sleep with her by telling her to get inside his church office. He tried to kiss her, but she refused and managed to push him and run,” the father said.