1 DEAD, 30 HOSPITALISED AFTER JERICHO MEMBERS DOUSED WITH PETROL

NHLANGANO – One person died and 30 others were admitted to hospital last Sunday, after they were doused with petrol while in church.

This incident happened at Manyeveni, an area before Mkhondvo, in the Shiselweni Region. It was established from reliable sources that the congregants of Manyeveni Jericho Church were in the middle of a service, wherein, they were praying (siguco) and in high spirits (kuvukwa ngumoya) when one of their own went to fetch a container, allegedly from his car, and entered the church building.

Spirit

It was said that he then doused (kuchela) the people who were in high spirits with the petrol while there was a lit candle inside the church building. It is a norm that members of the Red Gown sect light candles while praying. While doing their dance, the fumes from the petrol and the lit candle caused an inferno. Some people were reportedly burnt on the faces, hands and feet while others were burnt on their backs. In fact, the source narrated that some of the congregants got burnt by their gowns as they tried to take them off after they had caught fire.
After the incident, it was said the congregants rushed out of the church building and raised the alarm. Neighbours are said to have rushed to help and the congregants were loaded into different cars and rushed to The Luke Commission where they were admitted.

Police were also called to the scene. It was gathered that some of the congregants were discharged a day later and currently 21 people are admitted to hospital. It was said that children were among those who were rushed to hospital, the youngest being an 18-month-old boy who died while undergoing treatment in hospital. Attempts to get a comment from the church leader proved futile as the priest, who was identified as Ntshangase, did not want to address the media, claiming he would be misquoted. Yesterday, Bishop Khanyakwezwe Vilakati and some members of the Red Gown sect visited the admitted congregants in hospital where they prayed for them. In an interview, Vilakati shared that they received the report that one of the members had passed on and sent his condolences. He stated that what transpired was sad, adding that it was an evil spirit that they were going to pray on.

Meanwhile, League of Churches President Bishop Samson Hlatjwako sent his condolences to the family of the deceased child. He further sent words of comfort to the families of the affected congregants. Hlatjwako shared that the incident was unfortunate and that they were going to pray for the congregants and the church. “We pray that they all recover,” he said. He further said they contributed E4 000 for the admitted patients’ immediate needs. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati confirmed the death of one of the congregants and that 21 were still admitted to hospital. She said the police had not made any arrests yet and that they were still investigating the matter.

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