ELEVEN portions of land across Tshwane in Gauteng were yesterday given to the Zion Christian Church, a century after the infamous 1913 Land Act saw Africans forcibly removed from their land, a move that also affected the church.

Tshwane mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa handed over the title deeds for the land - meant for places of prayer and worship - at a mass prayer meeting yesterday.

The highlight of the weekend's festivities took place yesterday at the Lucas Moripe Stadium where the dignitaries included Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile, Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa, Deputy Health Minister Gwen Ramokgopa, Deputy Correctional Services Minister Ngoako Ramatlhlodi, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi and former South African Football Association CEO Danny Jordaan.

Handing over the title deeds as a token of appreciation for the role that the church plays in nation building, Ramokgopa said the handover was important because the church had been without title deeds for land in Atteridgeville, Mamelodi, Soshanguve, GaRankuwa, Hammanskraal and Marabastad.

"We want the ZCC to be in the forefront and inspire us to fight against corruption, and drugs like nyaope, and against poverty," Ramokgopa said.

"We will only find peace when there is no family that goes hungry," he said.

Mashatile said the national government supported the mayor in his plans to give land back to churches.

ZCC head Bishop Barnabas Edward Lekganyane said: "Today, I can say - without doubt - that the Lord of Zion never fails us.

"We faced a lot of injustices in the past, being moved from one area to another, which made it impossible for us to build permanent church structures, and people might have believed that we enjoyed holding church services under trees."

Lekganyane said South Africa needed leaders such as Ramokgopa, whom he said respected churches in general, unlike other politicians, who looked at ZCC members as potential voters. - ratsatsip@sowetan.co.za