Daily Sun (August 28 2015) - FIRST HIS church tent was burnt down.
Now angry people have gathered to stop him from holding services at a school.
RESIDENTS HOPED PASTOR PENUEL MNGUNI WOULD ATTEND THE MORNING ASSEMBLY PRAYERS AT THE SCHOOL, BUT HE WAS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.
It seems the man they call the snake pastor is not welcome anymore. Hundreds of angry people marched to the Ayanda Primary School in Soshanguve, Tshwane yesterday morning. They wanted to know how the pastor, who convinced people to rip off their clothes and swallow snakes, got permission to operate his church in the school.
The situation became more serious when the people tried to force their way onto the school premises. It was only a strong police presence and bishops from the South African Council of Churches that denied them access. People’s poet Mzwakhe Mbuli and the Tshwane SPCA were also on hand to maintain order.
Residents heard the rumour that pastor Penuel Mnguni had found a new home for his End Times Disciples Ministries church. The rumour became reality when the pastor started holding services at the school last Friday. Then they heard the pastor was practising his stunts and controlling the kids and making them speak languages that sounded like Chinese and Nigerian.
On Monday residents decided the pastor had to be stopped. And on Wednesday he had to interrupt his services when the community threatened to attack him. Mnguni was escorted from the school by cops. And yesterday the residents were back.
Resident Nkele Rakgotla said this pastor was no good for the community. “We don’t want him in our area,” she said.
“He has already hypnotised the pupils and he is controlling their minds. He will possess our kids with his evil spirits.”
She said they wanted to know who allowed him into the school. Principal David Monopi said he didn’t know how Mnguni got permission to come to the schoolyard. “I just heard about it on social media,” he said.
Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, general secretary of the South African Council of Churches told Daily Sun: “We are here to help the residents. We are very worried about the practise of what we call unknown religions.”
He said people should not be allowed to swallow snakes. “We have tried many times to have a meeting with Mnguni. It seems he is not willing to meet us,” said the bishop. Andy Mashaile of the Gauteng community police board said: “We are going to find out who gave Mnguni access to the school premises. If a teacher or a community policing forum member is responsible, that person will be prosecuted.”
At the time of going to press Daily Sun, Pastor Mnguni had not returned our calls.
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