Church’s noise irks residents

A POPULAR church that is at the centre of a storm over excessive noise in a residential area was yesterday served with a final warning that could see it lose its musical equipment.

The Tshiawelo-based Unity Fellowship Church under the leadership of Mpfariseni Mukhuba is situated a few metres from residents’ bedroom windows. The church, which has an estimated 5 000 followers, uses instrumentals and loud speakers during services.

It is so close to houses that even without the equipment they would still generate uncomfortable noise for someone sleeping in the nearby houses. Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesman Wayne Minnaar yesterday said the notice was a final warning.

“If they don’t stop making noise, we will confiscate their musical equipment. We understand that it is a church and we respect that but we must also take into consideration that there are houses around the church and people have a right to sleep,” said Minnaar.

But Theophilus Mukhuba, codirector of the church and husband to Mpfariseni, said they were not moving. He said what they make was not noise but worship to God.

They hold services three times a week. They host 10 000 people for an all-night prayer once a month.

He said they bought space that fell under an industrial area. “We applied for rezoning and it was conditionally approved. One of the conditions was that we do not make noise.” He said the condition stated that “if they were deemed to [be making] noise then the condition will be withdrawn”.

“There is no church that worship in silence. We do not call it noise, we call it worshiping God. We sing and play instruments. There are people who do not like this church. It is apparent to us that it is not about the noise,” he said. “This is Soweto, there are many shebeens that make intolerable noise but no one complains, ” he said.

The council took the church to court to enforce the eviction. “We are contesting the eviction in court,” Theophilus said.