Category: #zapeople

The KwaSizabantu mission in northern KwaZulu-Natal has over the years flouted many laws, including abusing its congregants and practicing unbiblical teachings. This is according to those testifying during the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL) inquiry.

The Kwasizabantu Mission was thrust into the spotlight in recent months after numerous allegations of rape, sexual assault, abuse and fraud were made by congregants. This led the CRL to open a commission of inquiry into the allegations to unearth the truth.

Last week the first set of hearings were heard in KwaZulu-Natal. On Wednesday, the second leg kicked off in Johannesburg.

Bishop Martin Fritz, who testified, said he spoke to many congregants who told him about their experiences at the Mission.

“A – unbiblical teaching. B – unbiblical rule of fear. C – physical brutality. D – physiological abuse. E – breaking of confidentiality. F – splitting of families including marriages. G – alleged untruths and deception. H – leadership protection of own ranks and even of alleged abusers. And I -, exclusivity practices and I quote ‘presented as the way.’”

Bishop Fritz also said that he was disgusted by the allegations against the Mission and he requested to meet with them, but the request was rejected.

“Receipt of our fax was confirmed via fax on 29 March 2000. But a meeting was declined giving the following reasons. A – and I quote ‘we feel it is unacceptable to accept your call to meet with you on 3 April. We should continue with the work that God has called us to and let that work continue to. I always come back to this tragedy. It’s always the same thing.’”

A former member of the KwaSizabantu Mission says he fled in fear for his safety after witnessing other members being physically abused by leaders of the mission.

Simphiwe Mhlebela says drug addicts who were brought to the mission for rehabilitation were severely assaulted at night in a dedicated room.

‘They have a room called number 3. So, there, late at night they brought drug addicts and they would beat them until they peed in their pants. I saw this when I used to patrol at night and I reported it several times to the officials until they asked me why is this was bothering me. I realized that they approved what was happening.”

KwaSizabantu has denied all the claims and set up an internal commission to investigate the allegations.

The second and last day of the inquiry in Johannesburg will commence at 10 o’clock on Thursday morning.

Claims of human rights violations on at KwasSizabantu are discussed:

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Cabinet has decided to extend the National State of Disaster by yet another month. Cabinet says this period will allow government to return the country to a progressive and responsible normal.

Cabinet says it has put measures in place to avoid a second wave of coronavirus infections.

The National State of Disaster was due to end at midnight tomorrow. This will be the fifth extension since the start of the COVID-19 lockdown towards the end of March.

The State of Disaster was declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March in an attempt to slow down the spread of the coronavirus.

Cabinet now says the extension to November 15 will help stave off a second wave of infections.

The extension comes a day before President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation on an economic recovery plan at a joint sitting of Parliament.

The announcement comes after South Africa recorded 1 178 new cases on Tuesday, bringing the total number to 694 537. The Department of Health has also announced 165 more COVID-19 related deaths.

“Thirty-one from Eastern Cape; 28 from the Free State; 50 from KwaZulu Natal; 31 from Gauteng; five from Limpopo; four from Mpumalanga; five from Northern Cape and 11 from Western Cape,” says the department in a statement.

The total number of COVID-19 fatalities is now 18 028.

“Of the 163 deaths reported today, 18 occurred in the past 24-48 hours: 3 in the Eastern Cape; one in Mpumalanga; two in Gauteng; two from Northern Cape and 10 in the Western Cape.”

The recoveries now stand at 625 574 which translates to a recovery rate of 90%.

Meanwhile, a Special Adviser at the Department of Health, Dr Bevan Goqwana, has attributed a spike in coronavirus cases in the Eastern Cape due to, what he calls, bad behaviour during lockdown Level 1.

The Eastern Cape has the fourth-highest number of cases in South Africa, having recorded over 91 000 infections and 3 300 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Goqwana says people are likely to have misinterpreted the alert Level 1 safety regulations – resulting in complacency in wearing masks and practising social distancing.

“I definitely think that what probably happened – because the numbers are slightly coming up – when we were told that we are going to Level 1, I am sure a lot of people misinterpreted that as if we are saying everything is free for all and people started being loose and forgetting about the things that they are supposed to do to make sure that we don’t make the coronavirus spread. You actually see a lot of people going around without masks, being close to each other and even hugging each other which are the things we are not supposed to be doing.”

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Minister of Health Dr Zweli Mkhize is addressing the Rotary Health Family Days 2020 webinar.

Live video link below:

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Pastor Timothy Omotoso remains a prohibited person in the country. The state prosecutor in the bail application of the pastor, Adv Nceba Ntelwa, confirmed it through an official from the Department of Home Affairs.

This means Omotoso can be deported if he is granted bail.

Omotoso’s legal counsel, Adv Terry Price, argued that bail cannot be denied purely on him being a prohibited person as he has no legal documents or permits.

Price says the court can issue an order with strict restrictions which could include an amount to be paid, house arrest and that he report to court for the trial.

He says Omotoso will appeal the matter of being a prohibited person. Documentation was served on him three weeks ago.

Omotoso is applying for bail in the Port Elizabeth high court.

He is currently in custody while on trial with two co-accused, Zukiswa Sitho and Lusanda Solani, on several sex-related and human trafficking charges involving young women from his Jesus Dominion International Church.

The bail hearing continues on Thursday.

State is opposing bail:

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The Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court in Mpumalanga has granted bail to an African National Congress Provincial Executive ember and his stepson who are both accused of rape.

The pair are accused of raping two eight-year-old girls. The two suspects, who cannot be named due to the safety of the children, were granted R20 000 bail each.

SABC Reporter Tumelo Machogo gives background:

State believes it has a strong case

State Prosecutor, Catherine Mnisi, says the state has a strong case against the suspects. She adds that the court should consider that gender-based violence remains a major problem in the country.

Mnisi, who was emotional during her closing arguments, said children are less likely to lie about being raped.

Defence argues otherwise

However, the legal representative of the suspects, Mduduzi Nkosi, says the state does not have a strong case against the suspects. He questioned how the state is going to prove that the victims were penetrated if DNA tests were not conducted. This is after the investigating officer revealed that the DNA samples were not taken from the victims because, by the time they were taken to a doctor, 72 hours had already passed.

Nkosi also claimed that another investigating officer and a social worker attempted to force the biological mother to sign a statement that was already written.

He says the statement said the mother had interacted with the children before signing, which was not true. Nkosi also says there is a possibility that the case is politically-motivated.

Residents are divided over the issue with some saying that this is a smear campaign against the ANC member :

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