No to illegal churches
YEOVILLE – Executive Mayor of Johannesburg welcomes court ruling against illegal church operations. Find out more here.
City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba has welcomed the court ruling to stop illegal church operations in Yeoville.
After numerous complaints by the community, the South Gauteng High Court ordered Selvan Crole Marcelle, who is known as Pastor Elijah Tenkwee, to cease unlawfully operations in his Yeoville-based church.
Read: Illegal building will be brought to book
Mashaba said the church operated in contravention of the City’s bylaws relating to building and land use.
“I and the MMC for Development Planning, councillor Funzela Ngobeni, were invited to a meeting organised by members of the Yeoville community in March this year in order to discuss the matter,” Mashaba said.
He said additions and alterations had been made to the dwelling without approval from the City.
“Furthermore, the operations of the church often resulted in loud music being played until the early hours of the morning disturbing the peace of residents in the area,” said Mashaba.
Mashaba said the City of Joburg subsequently served Marcelle with contravention notices to stop all activities, including a final notice. “Despite this and continuous appeals by the City, Marcelle failed to adhere to the City’s lawful instructions,” he said.
He said should Marcelle failed to comply with the court’s order within 30 days and that the Sheriff of the Court would be empowered to enforce the orders.
Edited by Stacey Woensdregt
