Church scandal arrests

Two women held in connection with the ‘miraculous’ return to life of a ‘dead’ man

THERE has been a breakthrough in the church resurrection scandal that ballooned into a social media frenzy two months ago.

The National Prosecuting Authority has confirmed that two women have been arrested in connection with the “miraculous” return to life of Brighton Elliot Moyo.

NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane confirmed the arrests but refused to give details before the women appear in court today.

“Two women were arrested and charged with fraud,” she said.

Police Captain Kay Makhubele referred all enquiries to the NPA.

The women are believed to be part of the group that went to funeral parlours looking for a hearse for the “resurrection” fiasco that happened in February.

Mjonondwane said: “They will be appearing in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court for a bail application.”

The arrests come after funeral parlours opened cases of fraud against Moyo, real name Thabiso Proud Mlanje, who took part in what was later termed “a staged miracle”.

Alleluia Ministries International (AMI) pastor Alph Lukau has distanced himself from the scam and insists Moyo arrived at his Sandton-based church alive.

Weeks after the “resurrection”, Moyo was reported to have died a painful death on April 3, bleeding from the mouth and nose. He has since been buried at his village in Zimbabwe.

Police said they were unaware of the death but were still investigating the case of fraud opened by funeral parlours against him.

The SAPS said Moyo remained a suspect until Zimbabwean authorities confirmed his death.

The Moyo “resurrection” scandal has been slammed by many sectors, including the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic communities.

AMI spokesperson Busi Gaca repeated that Moyo was brought to their church alive and that Pastor Lukau completed a miracle that God had already started.

She said the church was tired of the controversy and would not be be commenting on Moyo’s “resurrection” fiasco any further.

“We have not had any interactions with Elliot before February 24. We never knew that guy (Moyo). We only met him on February 24. Other than that, we won’t be saying anything else,” said Gaca.

| @yethudlamini