THE unresolved issue of R40-million that went missing from the account of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) last year, was again raised in a heated outcry at a Diocesan assembly held at Unizulu last Sunday.
The funds had been reportedly withdrawn from an Old Mutual investment portfolio and placed in an allegedly dodgy ‘get rich quick’ investment scheme.
This was apparently done without proper authorisation by two senior church executives who remain unsanctioned despite the anger of the church leadership.
Bishop Phembukuthula Buthelezi, who heads the South Eastern Diocese, said on Sunday the missing monies had had a severe impact on church programmes.
This includes funding for the proposed ‘Luther City’, a development project that would include a magnificent cathedral, as well as much needed training facilities for young ministers.
Land in Pretoria, reportedly overvalued at R18-million and without a geotechnical survey having been done, was reportedly offered as an incentive to drop any legal actions.
‘We want to know where the money is, we are not interested in any such swap and we are determined to resolve this through the courts,’ said one prominent insider.
‘A petition was signed on Sunday by all present to the effect that we empower Bishop Buthelezi to go to Pretoria to urge the general assembly of the church to go ahead and prosecute.
‘It was already agreed a year ago that the Hawks would be brought in, but this decision was nullified by influential members within the Cape Orange Diocese.’
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