A video that went viral recently shows two young women in their 20s being beaten with a pipe during a church service in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
The incident took place at the Endumisweni Faith Mission in Mdantsane and has sparked widespread outrage on social media and beyond.
The video captures one of the girls pleading for forgiveness while being subjected to the beating by a church leader.
The church has defended this act, claiming that corporal punishment is a method they use to discipline members.
The woman seen in the video, Tshidi Spampul-Mnyatama, argued that such actions are necessary because, in her view, South African children have been “spoiled” due to the government’s ban on corporal punishment.
However, the incident has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, including former members of the church who have come forward with more disturbing allegations.
Some have reported being subjected to physical abuse, coerced into taking loans, and having their money siphoned by church leaders.
The South African Council of Churches condemned the incident, stating that it tarnishes the image of Christianity.
Local political groups, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), have also voiced their condemnation, with the EFF even threatening to take legal action against the church and demanding its immediate closure.
