A Heildeveld pastor claims their ward councillor has been trying to shut down a church feeding scheme since 2015.
This week the soup kitchen, which is run out of a container, did not comply with building standards, and the pastor was ordered to pay a R1 800 fine.
Pastor Isaac de Jongh says the feeding scheme, located on church premises in Longkloof Circle, has been operating from a metal container since 2014.
“We started the feeding scheme in December 2014, three times a day. We manage to feed about 100 seniors and 150 children,” Isaac explains.
He claims Ward councillor, Anthony Moses, is out to get him.
“When the (City building) inspector came to the grounds, he told me the complaint came from the ward councillor. This victimisation comes after we fought for the 738 families to get RDP houses built in the area,” Isaac says.
The pastor says he now wants to “expose” Moses and the fine they had to pay was the last straw.
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“They are now saying the container needs to be five metres from the boundary line of the church property. Here are containers on almost every street corner in Heideveld. Why are those people not being served with court papers?” he says.
“On Saturday, we had to appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court and pay a fine of R1 800.
“This is an inhumane act of this ward councillor who is committed to trying to stop a feeding scheme where our families and underprivileged children are being fed.”
However, Moses denies that he laid the complaint, and says Isaac is “naar” after he lost the 2016 ward elections to him.
“We have dealt with this issue over and over personally with the pastor and the church. The main problem is not about the container,” says the councillor.
‘GOT NO ISSUES’: Moses. Photo: SUPPLIED “He [Isaac] lost against me in the 2016 elections and seems to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Moses says he has no problems with the feeding scheme.
“It’s alleged the community members complained (about the container). I don’t want to shut down the scheme. I don’t have issues with him doing good in the community.”