Methodist church ‘not the villain’

LAUREN PETERSEN

JOHANNESBURG - The South African Council of Churches (SACC) has warned against the labelling of the Central Methodist Church (CMC) as the villain in the overcrowding of refugees at the church.

Professor Tinyiko Maluleke, SACC president, said the council acknowledged it was within the competence of the health and social development portfolio committees to engage in oversight visits in order to carry out certain investigations.

“It needs to be noted that the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) at its recent conference in Pietermaritzburg, admitted in a statement that allegations relating to the abuse of women and children had been brought to its leadership,” he said.

He added that the SACC had been co-operating with government departments and the National Prosecuting Authority.

“This church tried to do what government should have done, what every South African should do: welcome the destitute, provide care for the sick, provide shelter to the homeless, tend to the souls of the battered and the suffering,” said Maluleke.

He said the SACC was concerned about the unannounced visit to the church last week.

“We urge the committee to exercise its oversight role with diligence, courtesy and with compassion,” he said.

“The SACC have called for the Gauteng legislature to engage the national and local leadership of the MCSA and the portfolio committee to place the interest of the destitute living at the CMC above political scoring.”