Showy lifestyles anger followers

The Seven Angels Ministries’ declaration that the Bible is outdated has stunned many believers in the Ngcobo community. But it is the flashy lifestyle of the church’s unemployed leaders that has convinced former congregants it is nothing but a money-making scheme. Social media is awash with pictures of the seven Mancoba brothers dressed to the nines, dining in expensive restaurants and driving top-of-the-range cars. Bongisisa Nkasayi, one of the former congregants whose mother donated her pension and a MercedesBenz to the church, said it did not follow the Scriptures. He said the robberies could be a result of congregants’ money drying up as the church battled to attract new recruits. “They call themselves gods and people bow to them,” said Nkasayi. Former congregant Cacile Jimba shared Nkasayi’s sentiments. “I am a better person now . . . That church was a lesson in my life.” Banele Mancoba, the church leader, was evasive about its doctrine. His avuncular façade disappeared when the Sunday Times told him of the complaints. He said his parents ran sound businesses before focusing on the church. But neighbours said they sold chickens and home-made bricks, and ran a salon. “People come here voluntarily and some of them decide to live here. We are not forcing anyone to do so. We get our guidance from the Holy Spirit and everything we do comes from him.”