16 Churches Closed Down By Johannesburg Metro Police. The Johannesburg Metro Police Department has shut down over 16 churches since 2019 started.
The Johannesburg Metro Police Department has shut down over 16 churches since 2019 started. The churches have been closed because they don’t follow the city’s by-laws. The police department has linked with church representatives in order to increase awareness about the laws of Johannesburg. The leader of the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, David Tembe, says these types of churches will not be acknowledged.
David Tembe says, “The Johannesburg metro police will never allow such churches to operate in the city, I think you said rogue churches, they will never be allowed.” A lot of the churches that were closed down were reportedly in Yeoville. Some of the churches were going against the city’s by-laws by not having fire extinguishers and playing loud music. The department has since linked with some church leaders.
Some of the leaders didn’t understand the raids at first when they began but they agreed that complying is significant. They have started working with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department in order to show the other churches how to go about in a good conduct. Grace Bible Church’s Bishop Mosa Sona says, “We must emphasize that no one is above the law and that no church is above the law…some churches may not know about the laws and that it’s important that they teach the churches first before raiding them.”
by Alexandra Ramaite
