Church members vow to ‘return’

Despite government indications that it is in the process of demolishing the controversial Angels Ministry Church in Ngcobo, some of its die-hard members believe that their church will regroup – and flourish.

Angels Ministry Church was run by the seven sons of the late Siphiwo Mancoba and his wife Noluvo, who call themselves the “Seven Angels”.

The church has been labelled a cult by government, traditional leaders and community members.

The church was in the spotlight two years ago when police and social workers raided the property and rescued 23 young children who allegedly had not been attending school.

Despite the raid and ongoing controversies, the church continued to operate. The church was shut down last month following a raid by a special task team after an attack on the Ngcobo Police station left five policemen and an off-duty soldier dead.

A shootout during the raid on the church claimed the lives of seven people suspected to be behind the Ngcobo Police station ambush.

Among those killed were three of the Mancoba brothers Xolisa, Philile and Thandazile, while Banele and Ephraim were arrested for conspiring to commit robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Subsequently six suspects, among them another of the church brothers, Phuthumile Mancoba, 31, were arrested in connection with the murders of the police members.

About 100 of the church’s members, including young children and elderly people, were rescued from the sprawling property on the outskirts of Ngcobo following the shootout.

Some were able to return to their families immediately, while 48 were referred to the department of social development for counselling and to be reunited with their families.

Yesterday, Eastern Cape social development provincial spokesman Mzukisi Solani said while some members had been reunited with their families and relatives, 29 were still living in places of safety.

He revealed that some of these were unwilling to be reunited with their families as they hoped the church would spring to life again.

“In interviews we have had with the people rescued, some were saying ‘we are going to regroup’,” he said.

Solani said as a result the department was facing a mammoth task in ensuring that they did not go back. The spokesman also revealed that they had still not located the families of all of the children who were rescued.

Many of the children interviewed have reportedly been unable to provide information on where their parents were from before joining the church.

Those who have been reunited with their families were being monitored by social workers.

“We have started a programme where social workers visit them regularly,” he said.

Several government departments had also been roped in to assist with their re-integration, including home affairs, as some of the children were said not to possess any documentation.

The provincial safety and liaison department will be hosting a massive cleansing ceremony in Ngcobo today in the aftermath of the killing of the five officers and the soldier, and the subsequent raid on the controversial church.

Part of the ceremony will be conducted by traditional healers while the second leg, tomorrow, will be spearheaded by religious leaders under the auspices of the South African Council of Churches.

Safety and liaison spokesman Michael Msebi said it was hoped the ceremony would help bring peace and stability and bring an end to crime in the area. — sikhon@dispatch.co.za