By Nenenji Mlangeni
PRETORIA-(MaraviPost)-South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) has disputed Prophet Shepherd Bushiri’s Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) Church lawyer Terence Baloyi of his claims that the organisation of being xenophobic
Sanco staged a protest against the church on Friday demanding that the self-proclaimed prophet pack up and go.
They’re accusing Bushiri of being responsible for the deaths of three women at his church last week while attending the usual Friday night service.
But Bushiri’s lawyer Baloyi, claims, “We are aware that this is more of a xenophobic attack because this shouldn’t be related to things that were heard. Those things should be handled by the police”.
However, in a press statement made available to The Maravi Post, SANCO says that while the community in Ward 58 have registered a grave concern with regard to the incident that took place at the church on the 28th of December 2018, where 4 lives were lost.
SANCO observed that the church through its lawyers want to divert the matter as a Xenophobic attack on its leader.
The organisation says Bushiri’s lawyer Terence claims is outer nonsense and just avoidance of accountability on the side of the church.
Below is the full SANCO Press Statement;
Statement on the protest action at Enlightened Christian Gathering Church by the community
05 January 2019
Tshwane, Gauteng
SANCO Greater Tshwane Region would like to raise few concerns in relation to the happenings at Enlightened Christian Gathering Church & it’s leader Prophet Bushiri.
It has come to our attention that while our community in Ward 58 have registered a grave concern with regard to the incident that took place at the church on the 28th of December 2018, where 4 lives were lost. The church through its lawyers want to divert the matter as a Xenophobic attack on its leader.
We would like to dismiss such utterance as outer nonsense and just avoidance of accountability on the side of the church. We are also not surprised that the whole matter will seek to place prophet Bushiri as a victim, while real victims were buried today. We are not shy to express our concerns that most foreign nationals who opened churches here are always jumping from one controversy into the other. As an organization we will confront the mushrooming of these churches and if needs be ensure they are closedown.
Our people drive from all over the country seeking God’s intervention & guidance at the said church, however what we witness daily on the gates of the church is a very disturbing. Our people sleep vulnerably at the gates waiting for a church service where some can be victims of crime.
The City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality should answer & take full responsibility about the safety and crowd control plan/measures for the church as a standard practice for gatherings of such magnitude.
We have also taken note in recent years with regards to the happenings in churches in this country and particularly Tshwane. We have seen our people being fed snakes, made to drink petrol and women falling prey to pastors like the recent case of Omotoso. We have resolved as SANCO to pay attention and act decisively against such & in so doing we are not undermining freedom of religion, however leaders must account & take full responsibility of any happenings in their places of worship.
The leadership of SANCO will also convene a meeting with religious leaders in the city to discuss these challenges and hopefully work together with the churches in finding a suitable resolve.
End.
Issued By:
SANCO Greater Tshwane
Communication Department
For Enq:
SANCO Greater Tshwane Region
Spokesperson
Bafana Nhlapo
0824121209
bjnhlapo@gmail.com
Regional Secretary
Portia Mokoena
0835989739
Mokoenaportia1@gmail.com
Regional Chairperson
Matlakala Mashishi
0829500839
Matlakala.mashishi@gmail.com
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