AM Live on SAfm, 18 Feb Church in Eastern Cape says Holy Spirit is superior to the constitution
The Angel's Ministry Church led by the Mancoba family in Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape says the Holy Spirit is superior to the constitution of the country.
They told a delegation led by Social Development MEC, Nancy Sihlwayi that it will never close down. Government officials have been on a fact finding mission at the church after 18 children of school going age were rescued on Tuesday. Nkululeko Nyembezi reports
The children that were rescued from the controversial Mancoba Church near Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape are being kept at children's homes. However, their lack of birth certificates is proving to be problematic.
Police rescued the children on Monday after a court order obtained by the Department of Social Development in the province.
It has also emerged that the children had been prevented from attending school and adults prevented from working. The church has been operating for more than 10 years. Many of the children were conceived and born on the premises and are without identification documents.
Others came to the church as minors but have since become adults.
Social workers are now finding it difficult to help the unregistered minors.
Social worker, Shumikazi Mgwebi from Bethany Children's Home says, “It is difficult because we do not have important documents like birth certificates because a birth certificate is the document we use to claim form the Department of Social Development. They also do not have medical reports which helps to have a basis of where to start with a child because we cannot keep a child here if the child is supposed to get treatment."
The Department of Home Affairs is partnering with Social Development to assist the unregistered children. According to acting district manager, Khanyile Diko, "To remain undocumented in the country renders you stateless. Therefore you cannot access any public services- even private services from private institutions."
The church was founded by the late Siphiwo Mancoba. His wife Bongiwe and her sons now run the church.
It states it is against any civilisation forcing its members to stay on the property until Jesus returns. It was founded in Mzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal, moving to Butterworth after a fight with other congregants who were against the rule of preventing children from going to school.
The children that were rescued from the controversial Mancoba Church near Ngcobo in the Eastern Cape are being kept at children's homes. However, their lack of birth certificates is proving to be problematic.
Police rescued the children on Monday after a court order obtained by the Department of Social Development in the province.
It has also emerged that the children had been prevented from attending school and adults prevented from working. The church has been operating for more than 10 years. Many of the children were conceived and born on the premises and are without identification documents.
Others came to the church as minors but have since become adults.
Social workers are now finding it difficult to help the unregistered minors.
Social worker, Shumikazi Mgwebi from Bethany Children's Home says, “It is difficult because we do not have important documents like birth certificates because a birth certificate is the document we use to claim form the Department of Social Development. They also do not have medical reports which helps to have a basis of where to start with a child because we cannot keep a child here if the child is supposed to get treatment."
The Department of Home Affairs is partnering with Social Development to assist the unregistered children. According to acting district manager, Khanyile Diko, "To remain undocumented in the country renders you stateless. Therefore you cannot access any public services- even private services from private institutions."
The church was founded by the late Siphiwo Mancoba. His wife Bongiwe and her sons now run the church.
It states it is against any civilisation forcing its members to stay on the property until Jesus returns. It was founded in Mzimkhulu in KwaZulu-Natal, moving to Butterworth after a fight with other congregants who were against the rule of preventing children from going to school.
