Commission chair death threats: man in dock

One man allegedly responsible for death threats against Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva has been caught - and it seems that his arrest may be the first of many.

Johannesburg - One man allegedly responsible for death threats against CRL (Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities) Commission head Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva has been caught - and it seems that his arrest may be the first of many.

The CRL has spent several months going to each province to conduct hearings into possible abuse and corruption by religious institutions.

But as the hearings continued, the commission has received increasing resistance from certain religious movements, including pastors accused of corruption failing to attend the hearings.

A man who brazenly signed his name on an email threatening Mkhwanazi-Xaluva’s life on Wednesday made a first appearance in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court.

Koabeng Qhobeka was charged with intimidation for his actions, but as he had already been released on warning, he did not have to apply for bail. He indicated to the court he would be pleading not guilty, and the proceedings were postponed to next Thursday for a trial date to be set.

The State indicated the police investigation was complete.

Qhobeka is understood to be a congregant of a controversial pastor, Samuel Radebe, who himself was charged for refusing to appear before the commission.

In November last year, Mkh-wanazi-Xaluva explained to the media that Radebe had contravened section 41 of the commission’s act for failing to attend his hearing.

Media reports claim that Radebe had forced his congregation to gather earth from their relatives’ graves and worship carrying spears.

At the time of his hearing, Radebe said he was not willing to appear before the commission as it had no authority over his church, and that it marked an unwarranted intrusion into his financial affairs.

The commission had also laid criminal charges against “prophet” Paseka Motsoeneng known as “pastor Mboro”, who allegedly sexually assaulted female members of his congregation in 2011.

Earlier this year, he also alle-gedly tried to solicit big donations after claiming he had been to heaven and would tell the story only for R5 000 per person.

Mboro later denied he had been to heaven.

By late Wednesday, neither Mboro nor Radebe had been arrested, but sources say a police probe into their alleged illegal activities is far from over.

shain.germaner@inl.co.za

The Star