Religious leaders arrive for report into rogue pastors

11 October 2016 - 12:36 By Penwell Dlamini

Religious leaders gathered in Braamfontein on Tuesday morning for the release of a report into the commercialisation of religions and abuse of people's belief systems. The report is to be released by the Commission for Promotions and Protection of the Rights of Religious‚ Cultural and Linguistic Communities‚ following months of intense grilling of church leaders‚ including the Zion Christian Church’s Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane‚ Pastor Ray McCauley of Rhema Bibile Church 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.In August 2015‚ the CRL Rights Commission undertook an investigative study into the commercialisation of religion and the abuse of peoples’ belief systems following an exposé of a Pretoria church where people were fed snakes.Among the church leaders who appeared before the commission was the “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. – TMG Digital..

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