Well-known clergyman Dean Alunamutwe Rannditsheni of the Lutheran Church and spokesperson for the newly established disaster fund is urging people to support the campaign to raise funds to be used in rebuilding the Beuster Lutheran Church at Maungani outside Thohoyandou.

The church was recently destroyed by a mysterious fire.

In an interview, Rannditsheni said after a prayer meeting held recently at the site it was decided that the church be rebuild as a matter of urgency. This comes after several church denominations in Limpopo came together and joined hands in an effort to rebuild it. A disaster trust fund was also started during the meeting.

The resident pastor, Mbulaheni Nengovhela, said the whole country was crying with them as many had benefitted from the church. “This church was the centre of civilization where the first schools were built. Many would like to help and that is why we started the trust fund,” he said. He said different churches had come together and pledged to rebuild the church before 2012.

According to him, the churches involved different denominations, including the Islam faith.

Randitsheni said he was overwhelmed by the response from those who attended the prayer meeting. “More than R50 000was collected at the service, which was held at Beuster last Saturday.

A trust fund, the Beuster Congregation Disaster Fund, was formed during the meeting. Organisations or individuals who wish to contribute towards the construction of a new church building can deposit funds in the disaster fund at Standard Bank Thohoyandou, with account number: 302567542. Randitsheni can be contacted at 082 558 3675 for more information.