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Joe Mafela’s costly tombstone returned to West Park cemetery
Grace Bible Church ‘ridiculous’ for ‘R89K’ to host Joe Mafela memorial
After being contacted to try to lower the fee, the church's leader allegedly offered only a R10K discount.
Joe Mafela speaks to The Citizen at his home in Kew, 8 July 2015. Picture: Neil McCartney
Grace Bible Church has again found itself on the Twitter trends list after allegedly charging Joe Mafela’s family R89 000 to host his memorial service on Thursday.
Actor Mangaliso Ngema shared on Twitter that he had visited Mafela’s family on Tuesday night when he was greeted with such “ridiculous” news.
He said when he contacted the church’s leader, Bishop Mosa Sono, to try to reach some sort of agreement, the pastor only offered a discount of R10 000.
“There was no deal as this is totally ridiculous. This is supposed to be a house of God serving the community. The memorial is now going to be held at the Joburg Theatre on Thursday,” said Ngema.
Wow pic.twitter.com/HOJZxuUZrN
— STOP ALBINISM KILLINGS (@kuliroberts) March 22, 2017
The church has been highly criticised following the news, while some have come to its defence. Those against its decision say it should be serving the community instead of trying to cash in at a time when Mafela’s family is in mourning.
Those who have defended it say that, like any other venue, the family should pay as it needs the money to maintain the building.
“They need to pay salaries, electricity bills and other expenses,” one has argued.
Some say the church was right in charging for the venue, unless Mafela was a member of the church, though they have admitted the fee appears very high.
The church is yet to respond.
Mafela passed away on Saturday night after being involved in a car accident at around 10pm on the M1 North between the Oxford and Houghton Road off-ramps in Johannesburg.
Check out some of the Twitter reactions below:
https://twitter.com/Mfondiny/status/844570397303558147
https://twitter.com/trapafasa/status/844572958223974400
https://twitter.com/That_Damn_Vuyo/status/844650360476237825
Grace Bible Church saw an opportunity and they took it
That's what churches do lately they're all about the money
— Keamo (@Sefularo_Keamo) March 22, 2017
Ain't nothing wrong for a church to charge for a memorial service but R 89 000.00 is way too expensive. Grace Bible Church
— @sempsem (@sempsum) March 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/Albatross_SA/status/844661931625463808
Grace Bible Church
In some parts of Mzansi 89k can arrange everything for a funeral and maintain the family after— Thabang brax✌ (@brax747) March 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/DumelaDuncan/status/844656340651954176
https://twitter.com/DumelaDuncan/status/844655719722946565
https://twitter.com/DumelaDuncan/status/844655502156054528
Churches also have to pay bills ey, Grace Bible Church isn't run on water.
— Viktor_M (@ViktorMotaung) March 22, 2017
Grace Bible Church doesn't pay its electricity, insurance, salaries and stipends in heavenly dollars. They must charge for use of venue
— Uncle Zeph (@bubhezi) March 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/TapsDip/status/844598979358810112
Yazi Grace Bible Church is being tested…
— Wildflower 🍂 (@phel__z) March 22, 2017
I am of the opinion that Grace Bible Church should not be apologetic about their asking price concerning Bra Joe's funeral
— 🥷🏿 (@DoomDubula) March 22, 2017
Our churches need to cleaned and maintained. The Grace bible church has done nothing wrong.
— Onyekachi🇿🇦👑🇳🇬 (@BavuyileM) March 22, 2017
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