By Celani Sikhakhane
- Government workers visited the church in kwaMaphumulo and rescued 18 young children so that the kids could finally attend school.
- Leader Vusimuzi Sibiya tells sick members to stop taking their medicine but says that people join the church by choice.
A church leader in KwaZulu-Natal has told his sick followers to stop taking their medicine to pray instead.
Vusimuzi Sibiya leads the eKhaya laBafundi bakaJehova church in kwaMaphumulo near Stanger.
His church rules ban members from taking treatment for chronic diseases. Followers are also stopped from going to work, clinics or school.
Government officials stepped in to rescue 18 children from the church. Six of these children belong to Sibiya.
KwaZulu-Natal Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga and CRL Commission chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva visited the church to speak to the leader.
Shinga said the rescued children will be put in safe homes so they can return to school.
She said they also spoke to traditional leaders in the area about the church building.
Shinga said the traditional leaders were surprised because the land was given to the Sibiya family to build a home, not a church.
Sibiya defended his rules and told the officials that people come to his church because they want to.
He said he will not disobey God for the government.
Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said the leader’s actions put the lives of everyone in danger.
“We even found out that even the Pastor doesn’t take his treatment which is so wrong in many ways,” she said.
She said other church groups who often complain about the commission have said nothing about this problem.
“I am very disappointed that those churches that were marching and calling for me to be fired are silent on this case,” she said.
Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said they will keep fighting against churches that violate the constitution of South Africa.
Both officials said they will make sure the church follows the rules, even though members claim they are not forced to stay.
Pictured above: CRL Commission chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva with KZN Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga in a meeting with church leader Vusimuzi Sibiya in kwaMaphumulo.
Image source: Social Development Department
