Results of rogue pastor probe due out on Tuesday
The commission which investigated rogue pastors and traditional healers will release its findings on Tuesday. The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural‚ Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) concluded its investigation earlier this year.This followed months of intense grilling of church leaders‚ including the Zion Christian Church’s Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane‚ Rhema Bible Church’s Pastor Ray McCauley and Grace Bible Church’s Bishop Mosa Sono.The Advertising Standards Authority‚ Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA‚ the departments of home affairs and social development‚ among others‚ also appeared before the commission.“As announced on the 20 August 2015‚ the CRL Rights Commission undertook an investigative study into the commercialisation of religion and the abuse of peoples’ belief systems‚” said the commission in a statement.“This project has been concluded. A report with recommendations has been prepared and would be shared with the following religious leaders.”It said engagements with the Law Reform Commission and the Justice department had taken place.Last year‚ the commission undertook the study following an exposé of a Pretoria church where people were fed snakes.Among the church leaders who appeared before the commission was “snake pastor” Penuel Mnguni‚ who also fed his followers hair‚ cloths‚ rats‚ ants and carpet.His close friend‚ Pastor Lesego Daniels‚ who is known for feeding people grass‚ leaves and petrol‚ also appeared. The pair told the commission that they were instructed by God to feed people all these things‚ and added that that no one had died.Mnguni was kicked out of Pretoria and started operating in Siyabuswa‚ Mpumalanga‚ where he took the “demonstration of the power of God” to the extreme and allegedly drove a car over two congregants. He claimed they did not suffer any injuries and were alive.The CRL Rights Commission said it expected River of the Living Waters leader Archbishop Stephen Zondo‚ Lekganyane‚ Sono‚ McCauley and many others to attend the meeting on Tuesday. – TMG Digital/Sowetan..
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