Snake pastor breached Bill of Rights

14/07/2015. Prophet Penuel Mnguni of Ends of Times Disciples Ministries in Soshanguve. Picture: Facebook

14/07/2015. Prophet Penuel Mnguni of Ends of Times Disciples Ministries in Soshanguve. Picture: Facebook

Published Feb 11, 2016

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Johannesburg - The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) on Thursday said pastor Penuel Mnguni’s sermons in which he fed live snakes to followers of his church were a violation of the Bill of Rights.

Deputy Chairperson of CRL Rights Commission David Mosoma said Mnguni had tampered with the right to human dignity.

“No religion should belittle people and undermine people’s dignity. It is unacceptable behaviour to feed the congregation rats, snakes and hair as Mnguni has done before. His actions contravene the Bill of Rights,” said Mosoma.

On Wednesday, Mnguni appeared before the CRL Rights Commission in Braampark, which was probing complaints laid against him in 2015 for feeding congregants snakes, synthetic hair, rats and ants.

Mosoma said the commission demanded information from Mnguni about his church’s background, qualifications and formal registration certificate.

“One of our main concern is what exactly compelled him to feed his congregations snakes and rats? His answer to us was that his actions were endorsed by the Holy spirit,” said Mosoma.

On Friday, the CRL Rights Commission is expected to hold a civil rights hearing on the investigative study into the commercialisation of religion and the abuse of peoples’ belief systems in Cape Town.

African News Agency

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