BCM takes tent church to court

BUFFALO City Metro (BCM) has gone back to court to stop an Amalinda church from conducting services from a tent.

The Daily Dispatch has received several complaints since last year from residents who want Buffalo City Metro (BCM) to stop the church from operating.

Last year BCM took the church to court for breaking municipal by- laws by erecting the tent and accused the church of illegally occupying the land.

However last week, Power of the Cross Ministries’ Pastor Zakhele Ntiwane said the church had bought the land from the Pentecostal Protestant Church and showed a copy of a title deed confirming ownership.

BCM spokesman Thandy Matebese also confirmed the land had been zoned for church purposes in terms of the city’s zoning scheme, but the owners needed to erect a permanent structure.

“The church simply put up a tent structure and despite notices and warnings by the municipality they simply failed, neglected or omitted to comply with the law.

“The municipality had no option but to approach the courts to compel the church to abide by the law and act legally,” he said.

In December last year, the High Court granted an order that the church demolish any temporary structure on the premises.

Matebese said the church filed a notice of intention to appeal.

“The church continued with its activities well knowing the municipality could do nothing as there is an appeal pending.”

Matebese said they applied for another court order last month and got it.

The new order states the church should refrain from conducting services until they have erected a permanent structure.

Speaking to the Dispatch last week, Ntiwane said it saddened him that the church and its flock were being treated like criminals.

But Ntiwane declined to comment on the new court order as the matter was being handled by the church’s attorney.

The church has been given until April 16 to respond why the order should not be granted. —