From snakes to Doom – 5 pastors that made bizarre headlines in 2024
Religious leaders are meant to lead and give spiritual guidance‚ but some seemed to take things a little too far this year.
Bizarre healing methods and odd affirmations of faith attracted the attention of authorities‚ and even prompted the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural‚ Religious and Linguistic Communities to probe the abuse of people’s belief systems.
But it was not an easy one for the commission — some of the most prominent pastors in threatened to curse chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva and her team when they conducted their investigations.
Here are some of the men of God who got on the front pages for the wrong reasons this year.
1) Pastor goes to heaven and takes selfies
Pastor Paseka Motsoeneng‚ popularly known as Prophet Mboro‚ is no stranger to controversy — but his claims that he took selfies in heaven in 2024 got the most social media traction.
At first‚ these reports were followed up by a claim that he’d lost them‚ but then he confessed the original reports were based on a fake Facebook account.
It wasn’t his first brush with controversy – he made headlines in 2011 for allegedly “curing” a congregant’s vaginal complaint by using the laying on of … his foot.
‘He is never wrong’ – followers defend ‘Prophet’ Mbhoro
2) Snake Pastor
Controversial Pretoria preacher Prophet Penuel Mnguni‚ referred to as the “Snake Pastor”‚ made headlines after pictures went viral showing him feeding live snakes to his congregation. He was subsequently arrested and released on charges of animal cruelty.
Pastor Penuel Mnguni aka ‘snake pastor’ drives over sleeping congregants
3) Prophet of Doom
Prophet Lethebo Rabalago of Mount Zion General Assembly sprayed Doom on members of his congregation‚ saying that the insect killer was harmless and that he was using it to for healing.
His actions led to a flood of humorous memes playing on the name of the iconic SA insecticide brand.
The MEC of health in Limpopo Phophi Ramathuba threatened to go to the high court and have Rabalago taken for mental evaluation. After hearing this news‚ the 24-year-old pastor fled his home fearing that he may find himself facing a shrink just for doing what he believes in.
Churches slam actions of self-styled ‘Prophet of Doom’
4) Pastor Dettol
Prophet Rufus Phala followed the Prophet of Doom to make headlines this year when he offered his followers the antiseptic‚ Dettol‚ to drink saying it cures illnesses. He also likened the practice to Jesus turning water into wine.
Also read: Pastor caught in love triangle – wife shocked by hubby’s second marriage
5) Engine Oil Pastor
Members of the Favours Church were hospitilised when Pastor Phumzile Topi gave them engine oil to drink in order to rid them of demonic spirits and witchcraft.
Preachers also entered the political fray in 2024 when they added their voices to the call for President Jacob Zuma to step down following the Constitutional Court ruling that he had failed his oath of office in the manner that he handled the Public Protector’s report on Nkandla.
The faith fraternity was‚ however‚ divided on this. The SA Council of Churches made the call for the president to step down‚ but other groups accepted Zuma’s apology and pledged their support for him.
