Church members meet with mayor over 'sex pest' pastor

Congregants from the Port Elizabeth branch of a ministry led by an alleged sex pest pastor from Durban have had a meeting with mayor Athol Trollip.

This comes as a controversial televangelist who is believed to be in Port Elizabeth‚ is being investigated by the Hawks for suspected sex crimes.

The Jesus Dominion International ministry owned by the televangelist has a church in Govan Mbeki Avenue.

Trollip’s spokesman‚ Sibongile Dimbaza‚ said the meeting had been arranged by the municipality after widespread coverage of the allegations made against the televangelist.

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“The Port Elizabeth branch of the church has been affected by the allegations and thus the leadership needed to understand what the issues were as this affects the metro in one form or the other‚” he said.

About 14 church members from the televangelist ’s church's Port Elizabeth branch sat in on the meeting at the Port Elizabeth City Hall.

Trollip‚ municipal human settlements political head Nqaba Bhanga‚ Port Elizabeth Anglican Bishop Bethlehem Nopece and Ebenezer International Christian Church Pastor Neville Goldman also took part in the meeting.

“The meeting was requested by [Bhanga] as a community leader so that the city can understand the safety implications around what’s taking place at that church‚” Dimbaza said.

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“Trollip‚ Bhanga and senior leaders of the clergy within the metro wanted to be taken into confidence by the church’s delegation‚” Dimbaza said.

He would not divulge details about the outcome of the meeting.

“The matter is before the Hawks for investigation‚” he said.

“We should‚ therefore‚ allow these processes to run unhindered so that the law can take its course.”