A faction of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC), operating from Jerusalema branch, says it has implemented a shutdown of all its gatherings across the 340 branches it controls countrywide in support of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
The faction, led by Comforter Michael Sandlana, said they acknowledged the severity of the global pandemic.
“As part of the church’s role in support of The President’s declaration of the State of Disaster on COVID-19, His Grace, took a decision to implement a total shut down on gatherings of all the IPHC church’s 340 branches and headquarters with effect from the 19th March 2020 until further notice,” a statement reads.
“While this notice is issued today, Our Father proactively issued an engagement letter to the Minister of the Department of Health, Honourable Zwelini Mkhize, on the 13th March 2020 a few days before the President’s declaration on COVID-19 pledging our support in fighting the pandemic and seeking support and guidance from the Department,” it adds.
Sandlana had dispatched a high-level delegation of priests to attend the president’s and Cabinet’s engagement with the religious and faith-based organisations held at the Presidential Guest House on the 19th March 2020.
“This shows how seriously Our Father views the catastrophic nature of the pandemic and His selfless Will to support any measure to curb it. As a Spiritual Leader of a spiritual community that adhere to the laws of the land, Our Father lives consciously to a biblical scripture that says the authorities of the land ought to be respected for they were established by the lord,” the statement states
The IPHC is now divided into three factions, following the death its leader Conformer Glayton Modise, who died without a will and allegedly having not anointed his successor.
The church has three leaders, Michael Sandlana who is leading from Jerusalema Branch, two of Glayton Modise’s sons, Tshepiso Modise who is leading from the Springs Branch and Leonard Modise, who is occupying the headquarters of the IPHC, Silo, in Zuurbekom.
