The South African Bill of Rights teaches people to tolerate each other in cases of diversity and differences in terms of religion, culture and language. In Louis Trichardt, this came to a test when eight members from an unknown religion walked the streets preaching the gospel that sounded bizarre to those who gave them an ear.

Ruben (31), Petro (31), Sibusiso Mdali (19), Lindelani Dlamini (30), Mduduzi Mdali (33), Sindiswa Israel (14) and Sthembile Mdali (13) wore clothes made of sisal string. Their dresses ranged from strange gowns, tops, and sling bags to head ribbons and hats. Only Sthembile, who wrapped her stark naked body in a colourful blanket, and the eighth member of the group didn't have sisal clothes on. They looked like initiates in the company of those who had made it already.

They divided themselves into three groups and people crowded around each group, asking hard questions about the "strange" people's origin and their strange faith.

"We're from here. You are children of Satan,"  Petro said sternly and the people standing around were stirred up by his statement. He pointed at one woman in particular, "What's that on your head? Plastic hair - the work of the devil! You wear trousers, because you women rule men." Some onlookers nodded their heads in amazement, while others became slightly aggravated. Without pausing, he stressed the point that there will come a time when all women and men who put extensions in their hair and treated their natural hair with beauty chemicals will pay a huge price.

"Your heads will mushroom with worms!" he shouted.

"You're totally mad," said one enraged hairdresser.

"We are children of Jehovah," Ruben answered with authority, moving his stick to and fro as he spoke. "You use body perfume because they sell meat and mealie meal to you in the shops. You mustn't eat those things. That's why you smell bad! It began in 1652."

"Whoever is teaching you that nonsense will be accountable before God," a woman who stood nearby said accusingly. "You're people of strange religion ..."

"Nonsense and strange is your 'woman' government who allows you to kill innocent babies," Petro interjected. "You must do what we're doing. Or else you meet your doom!"

On the other side, Sindiswa and Sthembile sat on the pavement, answering heated questions from equally curious people. "You like FASHION because you don't know what it means," fired Sindiswa, whose name means 'The saved one' . "FASHION means Fools Always Show High Interest On Nothing. You go for STYLE: Satan Teaches You Lots of Evil."

Sindiswa sounded eloquent and mature in speech. Almost everyone around voiced the opinion that if she had been directing her energy and strength into scholarly matters, her parents would have been proud of her. "My parents are proud of what I am doing," she answered.

"She's only a kid," one woman said in a sad tone of voice. "She should have been busy with schooling. She says that they all sleep in the wilderness along their journeys across the country. Two small girls and six grown-up males. You want to tell me they do nothing to these kids?"

Now everyone was concerned about the young girls' safety and welfare in general. Sindiswa and Sthembile had quit school in Grade 7 and 5 respectively. They joined the 'Path of Jehovah' in March 2011 at a place called Mooiriver in the Kwa-Zulu Natal province.

At long last, the eight rose and started walking down  Kruger Street with a crowd of curious people following them. They said they were going to other places to spread the gospel of truth.