Mamelodi Baptist Church to remain shut

Despite government giving the green light for religious gatherings, the Mamelodi Baptist Church will not reopen when the country moves to Level 3 – due to the “unacceptably high” infection rate in Tshwane.

In a statement on Thursday, two days after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that religious gatherings of up to 50 people would be permitted, the church said it believed the risk of infection during services was still “unacceptably high”, especially in Tshwane, which is one of the country’s hotspots for the virus.

It said church and community members who may be in need of counselling or other services were, however, welcome to visit or call the church for support and they would be assisted.

The church houses scores of people who were left displaced after floods destroyed their homes in the area last year.

The church said it would continue with its social ministry of distributing food parcels and vouchers, and running feeding schemes.

“The community will be kept informed of any changes on this decision should the need arise and circumstances change.

“Members are encouraged to keep in touch with their cell groups and to tune in to the online devotions and church services on the Mamelodi Baptist Church Facebook page every

Sunday morning at 9.30am.” Among organisations which have championed the reopening of religious gatherings has been the South African Council of Churches (SACC) and the African Christian Democratic Party.

These organisations and other groups met Ramaphosa to argue for the reopening of places of worship. The SACC has since dismissed claims that it coerced government into allowing places of worship to open under Level 3, News24 reported.

SACC general secretary Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana said the accusation that churches strongarmed the government into allowing religious gatherings was from those who had “failed to appreciate the intensity of people’s spirituality, especially the poorer communities of our society”.

This after a debate ensued on social media platforms following Ramaphosa’s announcement on Tuesday, with some believing the decision would cause more harm than good.

The EFF, has also slammed government for the decision. In a virtual press briefing on Thursday, leader Julius Malema pleaded with religious leaders to not open their places of worship, saying that if they cared for their congregations, they would keep them out of danger. “Do not go to church, you going to die, it’s a trap, a setup,” he said. – News24 Wire

People will be kept informed of any changes