Govt ‘disgusted’ at abuse of woman in Eastern Cape church
The Department of Women has expressed its shock and disgust at the alleged abuse of congregants at the Endumisweni Faith Mission church in the Eastern Cape.
A video has gone viral purporting to show a church leader striking a congregant while she tries to apologise to the attacker.
Also read: Metrorail restores services after Mountain View crash
The department's Shalen Gajadhar says pastors and church leaders often take advantage of their leadership positions.
"These videos, together with further testimonies reveal a cult-like following of this church where congregants are made to relinquish their human rights and serve as submissive beings.”
@AdvBarryRoux there's a lot of exposing waiting to happen here. Ngcobo "7 Angels Church" kinda vibes. This is in Mdantsane, East London Zone 8. The cult is called "Endumisweni Faith Mission" pic.twitter.com/TnjeptdUBl
— Finbar McTeague (@Finbar_McTeague) January 19, 2019
The department says pastor's response to the incident only serves to make matters worse.
"Even more concerning is a response by a church leader, as quoted in a newspaper, in which the young woman is accused of consuming alcohol and is said to be behaving irresponsibly, as she is more susceptible to being raped while drunk.
"This type of victim-blaming is not only present in churches but is indicative of beliefs across society."