MAKWARELA – The service of the Makwarela Faith Mission Church came to a sudden halt on Sunday, as a "concerned group" wanted the pastor to be demoted.

It is reported that the group stopped the church service, saying that the pastor had no respect and that he uttered vulgar words to the congregants. "He leads the church like leading his property," they said. They further said that the Faith Mission Church is an independent church, with respectable leaders, and that the pastor who is leading the Makwarela branch of the Faith Mission must be removed from his post.

"People are dissatisfied with the performance of the pastor. A letter of complaint was submitted to the Church Council before Christmas to assess the pastor's performance," they added. It is alleged that the pastor also neglected the common people and even belittled the neighbouring churches around Thohoyandou.

The regional chairperson was informed about the matter, but he had not supllied any comment at the time of going to press. The police were called in to calm the situation at the church, and according to Capt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi, the police patrolled the area to protect the church and other congregants.

Ward 28's municipal councillor, Cllr Lufuno Mudzanani, said he had also been informed about the tense situation at the church. It is alleged that some of the church members were armed with knobkieries. When Mirror contacted the Faith Mission's Church Council members about the situation, they refused to comment.

One of the church members, whose name could not be revealed to protect his identity, said he was ashamed by what had happened in the church. "Jesus Christ was never a politician, but people are practicing politics in the churches. If people want to be involved in politics, they must join the political parties here in South Africa, but not come to the church with their politics or revolutionary ideas," he said.