A Zimbabwean pastor has been labelled a tsotsi in South Africa after he allegedly duped eight women. Prophet Mattias Makwara, founder of Spirit Movement Ministries has been accused by the women of extorting money from them by either promising them blessings, or borrowing money from them and their relatives.
Sunday World reports that the women went to the church's premises and kicked up a toyi-toyi storm with the intention to disrupt Makwara's church service three weeks ago but his burly bouncers put them in their place.
Makwara managed to get a protection order against them after the picket. The women have since enlisted the services of a top law firm to demand money and some of the gifts they have presented to the man of the cloth over the past year.
According to the women, Makwara must pay back almost R1-million and bring back among others, a pulpit, TV set, power generator, DVD player, chairs, DStv decoder, carpet, sound system and an iPad.
Some of the members of the congregation who were served with protection orders refused to take the documents from the Alberton police.
Norma Mbali, speaking on behalf of the group, confirmed that they have briefed DMO Incorporated Attorneys to represent them in their war against Makwara.
"Makwara must just pay back the money he borrowed from the congregants. He is targeting a certain type of people that he believes are rich. He will come to your home and pray, saying he is giving you blessings but then you have to pay for them," said Mbali.
The women, who say their church is equipped with a speed point, also allege that it was impossible to consult with the prophet to discuss their personal or spiritual matters without parting with exorbitant amounts of cash.
"A single consultation with the prophet costs R1000. In the follow-up consultations you are required to pay the same amount. Reading a scripture costs R1000 for false blessings," said another disgruntled church member, Lindi Madida.
Ambrith Ndlovu, speaking on behalf of her family, said she refused to accept the protection order brought by the Alberton police. "Instead of paying back the money he serves us with protection orders. He owes my family over R600000 he borrowed. It was not a donation, he promised to pay back the money and it is over a year now.
"He borrowed over R200000 from my brothers who were not even members of the church. He promised to pay back the money within six months and now he is preventing us from demanding our money.
"He flew to Mpumalanga to convince my brother-in-law to lend him R400000. He was given the money after he said he was going to buy a farm," said Ndlovu.
Makwara rubbished the allegations against him, saying it was a personal vendetta because he had refused to have sex with some of the complainants.
"I never killed or destroyed anybody. But if they feel they want to destroy me so be it. Have I made people eat snakes, eat grass or jump on top of people? What wrong have I done? For the record these women never spoke to one another before. I cannot say they were enemies but they were not friends. They love drinking wine and they get drunk. Some of them wanted to sleep with me. They have labelled me as a false prophet and have colluded for the same purpose," said Makwara.
Sunday World reports that the women went to the church's premises and kicked up a toyi-toyi storm with the intention to disrupt Makwara's church service three weeks ago but his burly bouncers put them in their place.
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| Makwara with his wife |
According to the women, Makwara must pay back almost R1-million and bring back among others, a pulpit, TV set, power generator, DVD player, chairs, DStv decoder, carpet, sound system and an iPad.
Some of the members of the congregation who were served with protection orders refused to take the documents from the Alberton police.
Norma Mbali, speaking on behalf of the group, confirmed that they have briefed DMO Incorporated Attorneys to represent them in their war against Makwara.
"Makwara must just pay back the money he borrowed from the congregants. He is targeting a certain type of people that he believes are rich. He will come to your home and pray, saying he is giving you blessings but then you have to pay for them," said Mbali.
The women, who say their church is equipped with a speed point, also allege that it was impossible to consult with the prophet to discuss their personal or spiritual matters without parting with exorbitant amounts of cash.
"A single consultation with the prophet costs R1000. In the follow-up consultations you are required to pay the same amount. Reading a scripture costs R1000 for false blessings," said another disgruntled church member, Lindi Madida.
Ambrith Ndlovu, speaking on behalf of her family, said she refused to accept the protection order brought by the Alberton police. "Instead of paying back the money he serves us with protection orders. He owes my family over R600000 he borrowed. It was not a donation, he promised to pay back the money and it is over a year now.
"He borrowed over R200000 from my brothers who were not even members of the church. He promised to pay back the money within six months and now he is preventing us from demanding our money.
"He flew to Mpumalanga to convince my brother-in-law to lend him R400000. He was given the money after he said he was going to buy a farm," said Ndlovu.
Makwara rubbished the allegations against him, saying it was a personal vendetta because he had refused to have sex with some of the complainants.
"I never killed or destroyed anybody. But if they feel they want to destroy me so be it. Have I made people eat snakes, eat grass or jump on top of people? What wrong have I done? For the record these women never spoke to one another before. I cannot say they were enemies but they were not friends. They love drinking wine and they get drunk. Some of them wanted to sleep with me. They have labelled me as a false prophet and have colluded for the same purpose," said Makwara.
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