Pastor strips wife of financial powers

A feud between controversial East London church leader Zakhele Ntiwane and his wife of more than 10 years has led to him kicking her out of the church after she bought herself a new BMW 1 series without his blessing.

He also stripped her of her signing powers over the church’s bank accounts.

The proverbial skeletons came tumbling out of the Ntiwanes’ closet following the decision by the “Man of the God” – as Ntiwane is called by his followers – to suspend his wife from the Power of the Cross Church (POCC), based in Amalinda, after the latter bought herself the car.

The details are contained in a threehour-long recording of a mediation meeting organised by church elders.

Ntiwane is heard accusing his wife of buying the expensive car and selling a church site without his knowledge.

The car, he said, would cost them R7 800 in monthly instalments.

But his wife Mbali – whom he married when she was 16 – denies the car was the source of the dispute. Instead she accuses him of infidelity and abuse.

Mbali told the church leaders at the meeting that the vehicle, a Mini Cooper, had a broken sunroof, mechanical problems and was not roadworthy.

“The vehicle was broken into by thugs while I was away, I had to put plastic over to cover the leaks from the broken sunroof,” she said.