McKeed Kotlolo

McKeed Kotlolo

A Mpumalanga chief has ordered the closure of a troubled Zion Christian Church in KwaMhlanga.

The Vezubuhle branch of the ZCC in the former KwaNdebele under Reverend Josiah Kekana has split into two after allegations that the priest was opposed to members practising initiation.

He allegedly insulted the pro- initiation members and fired some of them from the church. He is also accused of having expelled an 84-year-old grandmother he claimed was involved in witchcraft earlier this year.

In March the disillusioned pro-initiation group decided to break away and hold their prayer services about a kilometre from the main church.

Last Saturday a bus load of ZCC pro-initiation congregants was allegedly refused entry into Moria City, the church's headquarters in Boyne, Limpopo.

Their bus was allegedly escorted from the premises by the church's security personnel.

The ZCC's secretary at Moria, Alpheus Moshaba, said they were not aware of the incident.

"There were hundreds of buses here. We do not know what happens at the entrance. We will investigate," he said.