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South African Broadcasting Corporation Copyright ©
2000 - 2005 SABC |
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this
Tuesday July 29, 2003, SABC 3 at 9h30 pm -
"Waiting
for Jesus"
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For six years 76 year old
Mbuzeli Dukuza lost all contact with his family. His
wife and five children were holed up in the compound of
the Church of Christ, on the outskirts of Umtata. Like
many others in this mysterious cult, they were waiting
there for the return of Jesus Christ.
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This Tuesday Special
Assignment visits the Eastern Cape to investigate the
extraordinary beliefs of this latter day cult. Members
believe that Christ's return is imminent and because of
this they neither go to school or work. Our team came
across several teenagers who had given up on their
education entirely. Others shunned all work - even
nurses and teachers - believing that they would be
looked after in heaven.
This cult came to light a
few weeks ago after a former member tipped of the
police. They discovered eight bodies in the church
compound. Some were buried in a vegetable patch, others
beneath neatly laid grass. One theory is that they may
have starved to death through fasting in preparation for
the Second Coming. But questions are being be raised
about why the graves were unmarked - or even
camouflaged.
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After the grizzly discovery,
the community turned on cult members, accusing them of
Satanism. Some of them have now fled, leaving behind
distraught family members, puzzled and confused. Others
were left with no choice but to go back to the families
they had abandoned six to seven years ago. They return
with nothing except their faith.
"Waiting for
Jesus" is directed by award-winning journalist Mpho
Moagi and filmed by Mzwandile Njokwana.
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page by Steven
Lang
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