Defamatory placards withdrawn
A group of Christians marching in Johannesburg yesterday against “rogue” churches were forced to withdraw placards criticising Shepherd Bushiri following a high court interdict prohibited them from defaming the controversial prophet.
Bushiri filed an urgent interdict in the High Court in Pretoria on Tuesday against the march organisers to not defame him on their posters during the event. This came after allegations that organisers criticised and defamed Bushiri on Facebook.
A memorandum would be handed to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities in Braamfontein.
One of the organisers, Solomon Ashoms, said although the march was not against Bushiri specifically, the placards were withdrawn to avoid getting into trouble with the law.
“This is not about Bushiri, but about false prophets. This is about awareness because sometimes we keep quiet and pretend we do not know what’s going on around us... let’s have that conversation,” said Ashoms.
“We know people in our communities and churches who have been abused but we’re keeping quiet. Another issue is how to deal with this legally, through the criminal justice system. So, we are marching here to put pressure on the commission to urgently attend to this problem.”
South Africa has in recent months seen an increase in pas- tors and prophets who claimed they could heal or instantly create wealth for congregants using illegal means. The “rogue” churches have been widely criticised for fleecing the poor while church leaders live in luxury.
Ashoms, a Nigerian, said some of his fellow countrymen were guilty of using religion to make money in South Africa.
The commission completed an investigation of all religions and their practises. The report was handed to parliament last year. – ANA