Our Ref: L1005/06/2020

Date: 02 June 2020  

To: All UAAC members              

MEDIA REPORT ON ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ARCHBISHOP IJ MURERI

Peace unto all.

We have noted a media report by Phalaphala FM on 01 June 2020 alluding to the “arrest” and appearance in court of Archbishop IJ Mureri at Dzanani Magistrate Court.

We wish to bring to all members’ attention that it is correct that our Archbishop appeared at Dzanani Magistrate Court on 01 June 2020. This followed a call by a member of the South African Police Services (SAPS) on 31 May 2020 for him to present himself to the Dzanani Police Station, whereupon arrival was informed about a charge of common assault laid by a Security Guard deployed at the headquarters as part of the Settlement Order entered into between the two parties on 15 January 2020 at the Thohoyandou High Court. He was then ordered to appear in court the following day, 01  June 2020, which he duly conformed. The court ordered him to reappear on 29 June 2020 as the matter was still under investigation. As a law abiding citizen, Archbishop IJ Mureri is and will continue cooperating with the SAPS regarding this matter.

Whilst we are naturally tempted to set the record straight, it is now impossible as the matter is before court and its merits no longer worth debating in public. It is also for this reason that the Archbishop can no longer reach out to the purported “victim”. In the same vein, Archbishop IJ Mureri wholeheartedly sympathizes with him and his family especially in view of the unwarranted attention and focus he will receive from the community and members of the church due to this matter.

However, we remain concerned about the inaccurate reporting by Phalaphala FM and Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, who claimed that the Archbishop was “arrested”. It is common cause that in such cases, basic media or Journalistic ethics dictate that a response be sought from a suspected party, which was clearly not adhered to by Phalaphala FM. Relevant processes are therefore being explored to have the report reviewed at appropriate levels as the public deserves better.

The Archbishop implores all members to remain calm and allow justice to take its course. He also wishes to encourage all UAAC members to focus on praying for the nation during this difficult period as we are faced with a global pandemic.

For further inquiries, please feel free to contact UAAC National Spokesperson, Rev Mbulaheni Nenzhelele, on 0822225828.

Issued by the National Executive Committee