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Church probe into missing millions

The case of a church's missing millions has now been escalated to the church's general assembly to seek answers.

The general assembly is the church's highest statutory body.

An amount of R40-million from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Africa investment account went missing seven months ago. It is alleged that the money was disinvested from insurance company Old Mutual with the understanding that it was to be re-invested offshore for a short term.

Bishop Marcus Ditlhale said a general assembly, which consists of seven provincial dioceses, held a meeting on Saturday July 24.

It has emerged that a portion of the funds was disinvested to build a cathedral.

In the meeting it came to light that the R40-million would be back in the investment account within 30 days, said a senior church official.

The general assembly also noted that the agreed bridging finance allocation of R800000 per month was only provided for three months, leaving the church vulnerable as workers have not received salaries.

"The general assembly expressed great disappointment on the failure of leadership by exco (executive committee of the church council)," said another senior church member.

Lutheran Confessors, who were also part of the meeting, have revealed that the Presiding Bishop, Molefe Ditlhale, and his deputy Bishop Absolom Mbuyazwe Mnisi, were tasked to investigate and report the matter to the Financial Services Board, the police and the Reserve Bank.

"The matter needs to be investigated that when the money was taken out, who really received it," said Dithlale.

goban@timesmedia.co.za

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