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Mission house 'a brothel'

MOHLAKENG congregants in Randfontein received an unholy greeting when they found beer bottles, used condoms, pornographic magazines scattered all over the mission house.

Congregants of the troubled Methodist Church in Africa had just received a court order to return to their church last week after a seven-month squabble that tore the church into two factions.

But they were shocked last Friday to find pornographic magazines, dirty underwear, beer bottles and used condoms thrown around the mission house.

One faction had been using the church while the other used a nearby school for church services.

"It's disgusting and whoever did this does not deserve to be part of this church. What makes it worse is that we had women and children among us when we went to open there," congregant Thomas Sithole said.

Reverend Hintsa Mqaba, whose faction was chased out in February, was also shocked.

"I can't believe our own people would allow such filth in a place of worship. We are not sure who is responsible for this. It's gross negligence," Mqaba said.

The church is not new to controversy.

Mqaba was forcibly removed by a few congregants after the church conference ruling that he had to be replaced by Reverend Simon Molokwane.

The matter went to court and eventually the court ruled that Mqaba's eviction was unconstitutional.

District chairman Bishop Shadrack Phakoane did not want to comment on the matter yesterday.

"I have not heard about what you are talking about," he said.

"My involvement with that church was to resolve the conflict," he said.

- sifilel@sowetan.co.za

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