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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu Plumtree Correspondent
THE fight over a church stand between two churches in Plumtree has spilled into court.

Salvation Army of the Twelve Apostles Church and the Full Blessing of God Apostolic Church are all claiming ownership of a stand in Mathendele suburb which is being used by the latter.

The Salvation Army of the Twelve Apostles Church led by Pastor Jefias Ncube has approached the Plumtree Magistrate’s Court demanding the eviction of Full Blessing of God Apostolic Church led by Bishop Tshuma from their place of worship.

In a pre-trial conference held before Plumtree magistrate, Mr Gideon Ruvetsa yesterday, representatives from both churches claimed to be the rightful beneficiaries of the church stand.

Mr Ruvetsa ordered them to come to court on September 8 for trial.

In its statement, the Salvation Army of the Twelve Apostles Church claimed to have given the stand to the Full Blessing of God Apostolic Church in a temporary arrangement.

“Our church bought a stand in 2000 and we got into an arrangement with the leadership of Full Blessings Church where we agreed that they could worship from our premises temporarily.

“In 2014 the arrangement collapsed. As a church we then agreed that we had to evict Full Blessing of God Apostolic Church from the stand. We advised the leadership of the church but up until now they are refusing to vacate,” read the statement.

The church also claimed that the stand was registered in its name under which all payments for the stand to the Plumtree Town Council were made.

However, the Full Blessing of God Apostolic Church is claiming that the stand in question was purchased as a joint venture by the two churches.

In its statement, it said the two churches jointly bought several properties, but the arrangement has collapsed and there is a conflict on how to equally share the properties.

The church said it was not prepared to give up its premises.

The Salvation Army of the Twelve Apostles Church is being represented by Mr Prince Butshe of Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers while Full Blessing of God Apostolic Church is being represented by Mr Norman Mangena of Coghlan and Welsh Legal Practitioners. — @DubeMatutu