Fellow churchmen worry about cult-like tendencies.
THE man at the centre of a church sex scandal, which sent shock-waves through the local Christian community lst weekend, has been using a pseudonym since moving to East London more than a decade ago.
Last week the Saturday Dispatch reported how dozens of women worshippers at the Power of the Cross Church made allegations of sexual assault against Pastor Zakhele Alex Ntiwane.
Some claimed to have aborted his children.
Ntiwane refuses to answer the allegations.
Today we can reveal shocking details as we unmask the man behind one of the biggest and fastest-growing churches in the province.
Ntiwane is not his name and lies about his birthplace.
Christian leaders this week said there were signs that the Power of the Cross was becoming a cult.
Ntiwane is a name he assumed on arrival from Mpumalanga about 16 years ago.
In Mpumalanga, where he grew up, he is known as Zakhele Morice Mhlongo.
When he travels, like when he went to Nigeria last month and when he attended the Azusa conference in America a few months ago, he also uses Mhlongo.
Members of the church, especially those close to him, have also been given new names.
The Dispatch is aware of at least 15 such cases.
Among them is well-known local recording gospel artist Ruth Nongogo and her two children.
Her real name is Ntombozuko. She was renamed Ruth by Ntiwane. Her sister Ncebakazi’s name was changed to Scelokazi.
Ruth could not be reached for comment, but a family member confirmed the name changes. A former member of the church, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she and her sister were disowned by Ntiwane when they refused to change their just allow my life private, please,” he said.
But in his biography on the Power of the Cross website, he claims he was born on “the outskirts of Swaziland”.
In his teens he moved to Mpofu village, also Swaziland, where he was brought up by his uncle. Again asked to explain this yesterday, Ntiwane responded: “I am what you say I am. Thanks.”
Sources this week told the Dispatch he was born in Mozambique. He came to South Africa in his teens after a few years in Swaziland.
“He’s a Mhlongo, not Ntiwane. Who is Ntiwane to him,” asked a close family member of his this week, who asked not to be named.
Home Affairs confirmed this week that it has no records of Zakhele Alex Ntiwane.
When searching the Home Affairs database using the same identity document that Ntiwane used to register his Scenery Park property, which he bought in 2011, the name Zakhele Morice Mhlongo comes up.
The revelations came as local pastors and theologians expressed shock at what is happening in the church – even likening it to a cult.
Women in the church are not allowed to wear trousers or jewellery, or plait their hair.
Members spoke of how Ntiwane even decides for some whom they should marry.
“Men are just given wives here and no one says no,” said another source. Sometimes the men even pay lobola to Ntiwane and not to their in-laws.
Reverend Lulama Ntshingwa said the church was exhibiting signs of a cult.
“Recently we talked about these new churches and we can’t really trace their structures and people have been robbed of money and spiritually in these churches. These are acts of a cult,” said Ntshingwa.
His words were echoed by Pastor Ndiphiwe Mcotheli of the Burning Bush Ministries.
“We hear that this has been happening for years and if you treat women differently in your church, that's a cult.
“Such people claim to be used by God while they are used by different spirits. Sleeping with women, that's not in line with God’s teachings,” Mcotheli said.
The Eastern Cape Council of Churches (ECCC) said the revelations came as a shock to them.
“These acts are not of a church, this is a cult of some sorts or they are acting towards being a cult.
“This is a pain and awareness is very important here,” , said the chief ecumenical officer of the ECCC, Mpumelelo Qwabaza.
Preacher’s double life
THE man at the centre of a church sex scandal, which sent shock-waves through the local Christian community lst weekend, has been using a pseudonym since moving to East London more than a decade ago.
Last week the Saturday Dispatch reported how dozens of women worshippers at the Power of the Cross Church made allegations of sexual assault against Pastor Zakhele Alex Ntiwane.
Some claimed to have aborted his children.
Ntiwane refuses to answer the allegations.
Today we can reveal shocking details as we unmask the man behind one of the biggest and fastest-growing churches in the province.
Ntiwane is not his name and lies about his birthplace.
Christian leaders this week said there were signs that the Power of the Cross was becoming a cult.
Ntiwane is a name he assumed on arrival from Mpumalanga about 16 years ago.
In Mpumalanga, where he grew up, he is known as Zakhele Morice Mhlongo.
When he travels, like when he went to Nigeria last month and when he attended the Azusa conference in America a few months ago, he also uses Mhlongo.
Members of the church, especially those close to him, have also been given new names.
The Dispatch is aware of at least 15 such cases.
Among them is well-known local recording gospel artist Ruth Nongogo and her two children.
Her real name is Ntombozuko. She was renamed Ruth by Ntiwane. Her sister Ncebakazi’s name was changed to Scelokazi.
Ruth could not be reached for comment, but a family member confirmed the name changes. A former member of the church, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she and her sister were disowned by Ntiwane when they refused to change their just allow my life private, please,” he said.
But in his biography on the Power of the Cross website, he claims he was born on “the outskirts of Swaziland”.
In his teens he moved to Mpofu village, also Swaziland, where he was brought up by his uncle. Again asked to explain this yesterday, Ntiwane responded: “I am what you say I am. Thanks.”
Sources this week told the Dispatch he was born in Mozambique. He came to South Africa in his teens after a few years in Swaziland.
“He’s a Mhlongo, not Ntiwane. Who is Ntiwane to him,” asked a close family member of his this week, who asked not to be named.
Home Affairs confirmed this week that it has no records of Zakhele Alex Ntiwane.
When searching the Home Affairs database using the same identity document that Ntiwane used to register his Scenery Park property, which he bought in 2011, the name Zakhele Morice Mhlongo comes up.
The revelations came as local pastors and theologians expressed shock at what is happening in the church – even likening it to a cult.
Women in the church are not allowed to wear trousers or jewellery, or plait their hair.
Members spoke of how Ntiwane even decides for some whom they should marry.
“Men are just given wives here and no one says no,” said another source. Sometimes the men even pay lobola to Ntiwane and not to their in-laws.
Reverend Lulama Ntshingwa said the church was exhibiting signs of a cult.
“Recently we talked about these new churches and we can’t really trace their structures and people have been robbed of money and spiritually in these churches. These are acts of a cult,” said Ntshingwa.
His words were echoed by Pastor Ndiphiwe Mcotheli of the Burning Bush Ministries.
“We hear that this has been happening for years and if you treat women differently in your church, that's a cult.
“Such people claim to be used by God while they are used by different spirits. Sleeping with women, that's not in line with God’s teachings,” Mcotheli said.
The Eastern Cape Council of Churches (ECCC) said the revelations came as a shock to them.
“These acts are not of a church, this is a cult of some sorts or they are acting towards being a cult.
“This is a pain and awareness is very important here,” , said the chief ecumenical officer of the ECCC, Mpumelelo Qwabaza.
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