The Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church’s much-anticipated “Open Doors Grand Entrance” service scheduled for Saturday has been put on ice. The church says this is to give the CRL Commission’s meditation process time, after being embroiled in a spat with the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) over the deaths of three female congregants.
It’s reported the three died during a stampede when scuttling for cover against a heavy thunderstorm whilst attending their service on the last Friday of December 2018. Police have opened an inquest for investigation.
Good day valued clients.
Please note that the Open Doors Grand Entrance service at ECG which was scheduled for Sunday 20th January 2019 has since been postponed to a date yet to be communicated, following this postponement, our transport will also not be taking effect. pic.twitter.com/bfAUz46tf0— AT & T Monnakgotla (@AT_TMONNAKGOTLA) January 18, 2019
ECG Spokesperson Maynard Manyowa has apologised on behalf of the church for the deaths.
“It is unimaginable to fathom that a church, our home, a place of peace, a place of worship where people come to refuge, where people seek and receive salvation and eternal life; can be the scene of a disaster. We appreciate this and wish to also convey our condolences and unreserved apology. We are sorry.”
However, it’s alleged the church has tampered with the scene, removing the bodies without informing the police; a move that has irked SANCO. The organisation embarked on protest actions calling for the church’s leader, prophet Shepherd Bushiri to pack and go.
But the religious practices watchdog, CRL Commission, entered the fray. ECG Lawyer Terrance Baloyi says that the church is hoping that the intervention by the CRL Commission will bring peace.
Tshwane SANCO Chairperson, Abraham Mashishi, says that the ECG is co-operating with the intervention by the CRL Commission.
“As part of one of our resolutions, we said the by-laws of the city need to be implemented; not only within the City of Tshwane, but over the whole country so that might be reason why the church currently is keeping their services on hold for now and we appreciate that to say, they’re cooperating after our intervention with the CRL commission.”
The spat nonetheless saw Tshwane ANCYL stepping up. It’s blaming the death of the three congregants on the Tshwane municipality’s failure to enforce the law. Lesego Makhubela of the Tshwane ANCYL says that the city was supposed to ensure that there is crowd control at the venue where the stampede took place.
“The law allows the City of Tshwane to be able to go there and ensure that there’s crowd control; to ensure that when there’s large crowds of people gathering, that there’s emergency services to ensure that there’s no loss of lives and to guard against anything that can affect lives. The City of Tshwane failed and they failed even when they’re a neighbour of that church.”
The church has suspended its head pastor, Evangelist Fritz Pretorius, pending investigations.
It’s reported that ECG attracted over 100 000 people during its 2018 cross over service. The service for Saturday, 20th January, would have been the first for this year, but Baloyi says the postponement is to also allow intensive prayers in the midst of “attacks” unleashed against them.
The public has reacted differently to the recent happenings at ECG church and its leader, prophet Bushiri.
“If a person dies, you must call the police and the forensic. They will decide what to do; you can’t take people to the mortuary. It is not acceptable, he must go back where he’s coming from,” says a member of the public.
“Where must he go? He’s here for us, I got born again here, I don’t see a reason why he must go. I don’t see a reason; he hasn’t done anything wrong,” says a congregant.
“Business is not going well just because the prophet is not around because of people,” says another member of the public.
“I say he must go. I don’t see the reason why he’s here, people are dying,” adds another public member.
Last week, the Tshwane municipality issued the church with an order to comply within 30 days. Failure will lead to all activities being ceased until compliance is met.
Police are still investigating.
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