Church must get its house in order

Court orders pastor to stop suburb services

The City of Johannesburg is celebrating a landmark victory after the South Gauteng High Court ordered a pastor to stop worship services in a house in Yeoville.

The council went to court to get Selvan Crole Marcelle‚ also known as Pastor Elijah Tenkwee‚ to cease unlawfully operating his Yeoville-based church. This follows numerous complaints by the community.

The church operated in contravention of City bylaws relating to building and land use‚ the city argued in court.

Complaints about the church’s illegal operation were brought in November last year.

Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba and MMC for development planning Funzela Ngobeni were invited to a meeting organised by Yeoville residents in March to discuss the matter.

According to the City‚ additions and alterations had been made to the dwelling without approval. Furthermore‚ the operations of the church often resulted in loud music being played into the early hours of the morning, disturbing the peace of residents.

The City subsequently served Marcelle with contravention notices to stop all activities‚ including a final notice, but he did not comply. Yesterday the court: Interdicted Marcella

● from using the property for any purpose other than a dwelling;

Ordered that the property

● may not be used as a place of worship;

Ordered the removal of

● all property‚ materials and equipment used for the purposes of a place of worship; and

Ordered that Marcella

● rehabilitate the property back to a residential dwelling.

“While the City believes in promoting and protecting the religious practices of all our residents‚ such cannot come at the expense of the rule of law within the city …” Mashaba said. –