A preacher in South Africa who allegedly ordered
his congregation to consume live snakes has been arrested on animal cruelty
charges, RDM News
Wire reported. Controversy
ensued after pictures of the congregation eating snakes were posted on the
church's Facebook page last week.
The
controversial preacher, referred to as a prophet, is Penuel Mnguni of End Times
Disciples Ministries in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria. Mnguni told his
congregation the snakes would taste like chocolate. He is to appear in the
Ga-Rankuwa Magistrate’s Court Monday to face animal cruelty charges brought by
the Society for Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals.
“We
are conducting a preliminary inquiry with an intention of opening a criminal
case against him (Mnguni),” said Mishack Matlou‚ a society inspector, Nehanda Radio reported. “What we saw in the pictures
is cruel. Imagine being eaten alive! This has to stop.”
Mnguni
was the subject of controversy in the past when he made his followers eat hair
and rags, claiming God has the power to make a person eat anything and that his
teachings were based on scripture. He said he learned his extreme teachings
from the Rev. Lesego Daniel of Rabboni Ministries, who forced his
congregation to eat grass and drink petrol.
“So
far I have faced a lot of persecution from people and pastors around me,"
Mnguni said, South Africa Latest News
reported.
"They say what I do is not from God but when they come to the service and
listen to me preach they think otherwise."
The
End of Time Disciples Ministries has about 100 to 150 followers and is inside a
small tent in a poor area. South Africa Latest News said followers come
from as far as Limpopo and Botswana for Mgnuni’s “impartations.”
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