Masoka Dube

Residents of Mkhuhlu in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga, are furious because the municipality refused a faith healer permission to use a school in the area.

Refumo Khoza said the pastor had helped many locals in the area three months ago.

Pastor Andries Steyn of the World Crusade Revival said he had asked the municipality for permission to use a school to pray for local people.

"The municipal officials told us to leave but the education department gave us permission to use one of the schools," Steyn said.

"We are not here to fight the municipality. The people want us and we are here to help."

Bushbuckridge spokesman Matome Malatji said he could not comment because he was at a noisy soccer game yesterday.