ANC back Bushiri on church stampede: Blames city officials for laxity
South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) has thrown its weight behind Prophet Shepherd Bushiri blaming the Tswane City Council for not enforcing set regulations as stipulated by the country’s gathering Action to avoid repeat of deadly stamepede which claimed the lives of three congregants at Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) Church in Pretoria .
In a joint statement ECG Church External Media Relations Manager Maynard Manyowa and the church’s spokesperson Terrance Baloyi said the church has welcomed the statements by ANC.
“The Enlightened Christian Gathering Church has noted, accepted and welcomes statements attributed to the ruling African National Congress on issues surrounding the unfortunate loss of lives and injuries suffered by beloved members of our family on the 28th of December 2018 in Pretoria.
“Since 2015, we have been hosting between 60,000 to 70,000 people three times a week at the Showgrounds. We have done so without encountering failures in crowd control. Members of our family, and even visitors have enjoyed frequenting our church to worship, fellowship and accept the gospel of good news in an environment that is safe, calming and clean.
“Two days after the tragic loss of lives, with heavy hearts, and a thick cloud of grief hovering above us, we held a very successful crossover service at the very same Showgrounds with no recorded incidents of crowd control failure, violence, theft or crime,” they said.
They said the church agreed with the ANC that safety ought to be a primary consideration.
“We agree with the ANC that safety ought to be a primary consideration at our church. We also accept their stance that we must take full responsibility for the tragedy and render assistance to all victims within our family.
“We agree with them unequivocally and with no reservation. We accept their advice and are working flat out as a ministry to ensure that we implement their recommendations
“We have stated before that this is something we do not want to ever happen again, and we are working with officials to ensure that any compliance and public safety loopholes are closed,” Manyowa and Baloyi said.
Manyowa and Baloyi said ECG Pretoria Branch has over 1000 trained professionals working at every service in the area of health, safety, security and operations.
“ECG Pretoria Branch has over 1000 trained professionals working at every service in the area of health, safety, security and operations. While there have been no incidents for 99.99% and over a period of over 4 years, the church takes this incident seriously and is doing everything to improve systems.
“We have utmost confidence that our systems are robust, but are taking measures nonetheless to improve them. We believe we cannot stop getting better.
“It is with this understanding that have undertaken and engaged local external experts and analysts and consultants to asses our crowd control measures and make recommendations.
“We would also like to reiterate that we remain a family in mourning, and are overwhelmed by a sense of deep grief.
“However, we are committed to honouring the memory of our departed family members and their family members whom we truly love, uncovering the exact nature of what transpired on the fateful day, as well as improving our systems,” Manyowa and Baloyi said.
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God will always defend His.Haters talked too much about my prophet. If you don’t know him just shut up.
I’ve never heard any protest against a certain Zion church whom they once face the same tragedy as ECG it was completely silent……. I’ve never heard any strike again concerning the people who lost their lives at Ellis Park…… nothing happen……as for this one we are in grieving with the families of our sisters in the Lord……..in this case are you telling me that my father was supposed to go to heaven and ask God to Stop the Storm and the heavy rain in this case my father is not wrong Only the painful part is that we’ve lost our… Read more »
Do not be fooled by the statememts made my Bushiri publicity machine. What did ANC actually say to say it supports Bushiri and his Company? People, these are lies. ANC is too big to concern itself with Bushiri who is feelibg the heat that he could be thrown out of SA which has been an easy target for Bushiri to make easy, lots of money.
Brazi, you say ANC is too big to concern itself with Bushiri? You’re mistaken, my brother. ANC big guns and other govt officials fall over themselves just to attend services at ECG. Prophet Bushiri is not just a person. He is an institution!
Obviously, you don’t watch Prophetic Channel. Watch it one of these days. You will be surprised at the number of VIPs from govt ( and governments ) who visit ECG to worship there.
Don’t curse yourself Major one is my father and a Major Prophet. Check what God WL do when you speak bad about His Prophet
DEAR SOUTH AFRICANS— IF AN AEROPLANE CARRYING 350 PEOPLE CLASHES — WHOM DO YOU BLAME ??? DO YOU BURN TYRES ?? DO YOU BLAME PILOTS ?? DO YOU BLAME ENGINEERS ?? DO YOU BLAME THE COMPANY OWNING THE PLAIN ??
Powerful there is sense in your comment
A train killed people, stampede happened when pirate n chiefs were playing BT no one stopped players or teams to affiliate under safa. people don’t respect God please be warned You cannot fight the Grace and Win Never. when people are been healed,transformed in ECG media is not interested,please leave my father Major one alone
To God be the Glory…..God always win his Battles. ANC your the leaders
Where is Ephraim Ntondo?