Everson Luhanga
The two pastors went to pray in a secluded area seeking salvation and wisdom from God.
As they knelt down at a holy place under a tree to say their prayers, they discovered the body of a man hanging there.
They believe that their decision to go to the mountains was led by the holy spirit to find the body of the man, who reportedly committed suicide.
Pastor Lucas Malaza of Abalandile Benkosi Zion Apostolic Church said at first sight, he thought the unknown man was alive. But “there was no answer from the man as I tried to speak to him”, he said.
As he looked up, he saw the rope that the man had allegedly used to hang himself.
The site was along the Jukskei River between Alexandra and Midrand in Johannesburg.
The pastor said for the past 10 years, he has been using the bushy area under the tree to pray.
He said although he was terrified to find the dead man, he told Scrolla.Africa that it was the holy spirit of God who directed him there on Tuesday afternoon so that they could find the man and alert the authorities.
“If we hadn’t come, maybe the body was going to decompose there without anyone noticing. But now, he has been taken to the mortuary and the police will circulate information that would help the family that is missing someone to check and identify him.
“If a family comes forward, the man will be given a dignified funeral and not be eaten by wild beasts,” he said.
Pastor Jabulani Nkosi, who was also at the prayer scene, said it is so sad that many young people are committing suicide. “There has been an increasing number of people seeking counselling from church elders,” he said
“Some, besides counselling, commit suicide afterwards and their families report to us.
“Taking your own life is not a solution for any problem one may face.”
He said the Bible teaches us that suicide is a grave sin equivalent to murder. In Exodus 20 verse 12 the Bible clearly says “Do not commit murder”.
“This verse doesn’t only mean killing the next person but even taking your own life,” he said.
In Exodus 21 verse 23 the Bible says: “But if there is further injury, then the punishment that must be paid is life for life.”
The two pastors informed the police who escalated the issue to relevant people in search of the family of the man.
