Councillor is victimising feeding scheme, says pastor

A HEIDEVELD pastor who is running a feeding scheme from a container placed at the local church is accusing the local ward councillor of victimising him and his organisation.

Isaac de Jongh of the Macedonian Revival Mission said Ward 44 councillor Anthony Moses was settling a personal vendetta against him by allegedly sending a building inspector to access the church grounds where the container was placed.

As a result of the inspector’s visit a number of regulations and issues had been brought forward by the plans department, in Athlone, including a court appearance at the Wynberg Court, a fine of R3 800 that was reduced to R1800, and a request that the container be moved five metres away from the church’s boundary wall where it is now situated.

De Jongh said that moving the container would limit parking as the church grounds were small, and would cost R2 000.

“This personal attack came because I am a community activist and fought for the 738 families who got RDP houses that were build in Heideveld.

“Since 2013 the City, through councillor Moses, has blocked our faith-based organisation from even using the community centres in Heideveld. We feed lots of children and families at the container, as well as from different parts in Heideveld and surrounding areas,” De Jongh said.

However, Moses denied ever getting involved in the matter.

“His (De Jongh’s) problem started with violating municipal by-laws by placing the container without explaining on the church grounds. This means the he needed permission from the plans department.

“I told him he needs to apply and get engineering plans. I also spoke to the relevant people and found out that it was members of the community who had complained about the container.

“If I had wanted to complain, I would have first had to address it formally with him,” said Moses.

He added that he was willing to help the pastor if he wrote an email requesting assistance. The feeding scheme has been running since 2014 and feeds more than 100 adults and children at least three times a week.

De Jongh said it depended on funds from the church.

“That R1 800 fine could have been used to buy food to feed more people…instead it was used for a fine.”

He added said since the court interdict the church had made numerous attempts to adhere to the by-law, and had submitted more than three architectural plans from 2016 until now.

He said that each time that they went back they were informed of additional things that should be added.

We feed lots of children and families at the container and different parts of Heideveld Isaac de Jongh Pastor