JOHANNESBURG - The National Prosecuting Authority's (NPA) appeal was in the interest of the victims, said spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.
"We believe that there was a blunder that was done," said Kganyago.
"We were worried about the victims of GBV and we believe that the interests of the victims had to be properly dealt with," he added.
The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) granted the NPA leave to appeal televangelist Timothy Omotoso's acquittal.
Omotoso and his two co-accused, Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho, were acquitted on 32 charges, including rape, sexual assault, human trafficking and racketeering.
The NPA’s previous application for leave to appeal was dismissed by the Gqeberha High Court in April last year.
Omotoso was first arrested in 2017 and charged with multiple offences following allegations made by several women linked to his church.
After his acquittal, the televangelist was re-arrested in May on immigration-related charges.
He was later released after a court found that the Department of Home Affairs had not followed the correct legal procedures when arresting him.
He was deported from South Africa and declared an undesirable person, effectively banning him from returning for five years.
Kganyago said it is the state's responsibility to defend vulnerable victims and the judgment allows them to do just that.
With Omotoso back in his home country, Kganyago said they had begun the process of getting Omotoso extradited from Nigeria.
In a separate case, the state is also busy with the legal process to bring Shepherd Bushiri back to South Africa. The Malawian courts have ruled in South Africa's favour; however, Bushiri has appealed the decision.
"Unfortunately, we have to follow the process; it takes time, but ultimately it will happen," he says.
Kganyago said the process now allows them to challenge certain findings by the previous court. This also allows them to highlight the prospects of succeeding in a different court.
Kganyago said since Sulani and Sitho are still in the country, the matter can continue.