Money the reason for church split

Money is allegedly at the centre of the split in the Church of Christ Riverview congregation in Lakeside.

|||

Cape Town - Money is allegedly at the centre of the split in the Church of Christ Riverview congregation in Lakeside.

This emerged during an interdict application before Western Cape High Court Judge Nape Dolamo on Wednesday.

The church has sought an interdict to prevent an alleged splinter group from gaining control of the church’s finances.

Absa and Standard Bank froze the church’s accounts pending the outcome of the court case which would determine its rightful executive committee.

In the meantime, the accounts are being handled by an auditor.

The church collected money from its congregation and received funds from billboard advertising on its grounds.

In courtroom 28, a few supporters of the alleged splinter group, including respondents one and two – Honore Makembe and Tom Smith – were seated in the gallery listening to the arguments.

Court orders reveal that Makembe started and operated a “cluster group” called the “cell-group” in the Westlake area.

 

The group merged with the Riverview church in 2010 with Noel van der Berg as the preacher.

 

The judge questioned the validly of the church’s 2012 and 2015 constitution that elected five congregants as members of the executive committee.

When the furore began, it is the executive committee that controlled the church’s finances.

Smith was elected as the chairman of the church and trustee in 2010.

The judge was conflicted as to which constitution to follow since no amendments were made.

The alleged splinter group’s lawyers said that since Steward Becker gained control of the church’s finances, he was not forthcoming with financial statements or audits.

They pointed out that the last financial review was in 2010.

The applicant’s legal counsel, Luke Zazeraj and Chris Nel, argued that the issue was not with the splinter group but rather with Makembe who was accused of intimidating congregants and entering the church premises at times other than the times specified in an earlier court order.

Judge Dalamo adjourned proceedings.

The court order granted earlier this month would hold for now, allowing both groups to worship at the church at different times – one group in the morning and another in the afternoon.

Cape Argus