Image: Gallo Images/Thinkstock
Image: Gallo Images/Thinkstock
The eThekwini Community Church, co-founded by Vusi Dube, a member of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, has been operating from Albert Park, in St Andrews Road, in the Durban CBD, since 2008.
The church was established by Dube, his wife Taki, and other ministers who broke away from the Durban Christian Centre .
The charismatic church is one of the biggest in the city and enjoys the support of black elites, politicians and celebrities.
It was first set up in a giant white marquee at Gugu Dlamini Park, near The Workshop Mall in the CBD. It was moved to Albert Park in 2008. But soon afterwards residents started complaining about the noise it generated.
Residents also complained that they were paying to maintain the park but their rights were being overridden by the church.
DA eThekwini caucus leader and member of the executive committee Tex Collins joined the residents in challenging the municipality to evict the church.
Yesterday, Collins said he was pleased that his party's move to expose "Dube's illegal operations" in the park had been successful.
"He has been operating the church in the public space illegally for years. However, there is nothing to celebrate or claim victories. We were fighting for principle and the pastor should have followed the rules like any other citizen," said Collins.
He said that, by law, no structure could be erected permanently on a public space, as Dube was aware.
"He has been running a business for many years without paying the council. He never paid for services while he was collecting pots and pots of money.
"And the council has allowed that to happen. I don't know how he purports to be a man of God yet he operated illegally," said Collins.
"I'm not sympathising with the man [Dube] but there is no bad blood between us."
Collins said he wished Dube and his church the best of luck .
Council spokesman Thabo Mofokeng said the erection of the church tent in the park was the result of a temporary arrangement between Dube and the municipality.
He said the council had for a long time asked the church to move.
"It's not correct that the municipality was not doing anything to ask the church to move. There were issues involving the law. On the law issue we cannot just wake up and give instructions."
Dube said his church had not invaded the park. He said there was an arrangement between the church and the municipality.
"The DA should have asked how we ended up in the park.
"We always knew it was a temporary arrangement.
"It's not correct for Collins to claim that we were operating illegally in the park. We never connected the electricity illegally.
"I paid R13 000 for electricity. You cannot pay for illegal things. The council would have taken the church to court if the connection was illegal," he said.
Dube said his church was ready to move into its new R25-million premises in Sylvester Ntuli Street in the city centre.
"We'll be in the new place on April 27. The next day we'll have a celebration of our achievement to have a property.
"But at the moment, we have no time limitation to be out of the park. It's our decision," said Dube.