SACC urges government to allow faith-based gatherings

As the country awaits the next so-called “family meeting”, and despite near-daily record increases in infection rates and fatalities, the South African Council of Churches (SACC) is calling for faith-based gatherings to be allowed again.

The President is expected to address the nation soon, possibly as early as Monday night, on the way forward with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in full force.

Over the weekend, a church gathering in Sebokeng was halted by the police who had to use rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the group.

General secretary of the SACC, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana said in an interview with eNCA that people were frustrated about the total ban of churches and which, according to him, was only appropriate for the first two weeks.

ALSO READ: Money, not prayer, is reopening churches

“We do know that this has happened in the past, they said a few weeks and it extended so maybe there is a need to allow at least a limited number of people to worship, maybe 50 even, if they can adhere to the regulations.

“Because as much as many people are dying there is a need for pastoral ministries, there must be a place where people can go to for pastoral ministries, comforting and strengthening of their faith,” said Mpumlwana.

He explained that churches should be allowed to operate in the same way restaurants are allowed to operate with a limited number of people.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.