'HY REV MY OP'

A desperate mother from Kensington claims that a local pastor who pretended to help her used her appeal for assistance for financial gain.

However, he denies this.

Lezaan Goliath reached out to the Daily Voice appealing for donations towards her daughter’s soccer trip to Sweden after the soccer star had been scouted for an incredible opportunity to tour Sweden as part of LifeZone's Soccer International Under 14 girls football team. 

The tour will take place between 20 June and 7 July and the cost to go on the trip is R28 000, excluding travel insurance, visa costs and passport fees.

On 16 April 2025 Daily Voice published the article.

Lezaan claimed that Reverend Rodney Naidoo reached out to her after seeing her number in the article and offered to help by hosting a two-day conference at Athlone Stadium on 23 and 29 April.

She explains: “He told me that he has his own church called Church of Cape Town and I thought his intentions were pure. He told me to arrange transport for my family to the event but he will pay for it. He said he will take up an offering and the funds will go towards my child.

"He had my child get up to hand out the envelopes to the people for the offering. After the service was done, I saw him put the envelopes vinnig into his suitcase.

"He told me that he does not have money to pay for the transport, so I should make a way. I had to pay R2300 for three taxis to take my family back to Mitchells Plain and Kensington."

Lezaan says that Reverend Naidoo has since been ignoring her.

When Daily Voice reached out to Reverend Naidoo’s [former] personal assistant from Oudtshoorn, she said that she only worked for the Reverend for two weeks but he never paid her.

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, says: “I was desperate for work as I am a student paying for my own studies. We agreed that he will pay me R8 500 per month. I used my studies money to go to Cape Town thinking he would pay me back month end but he never did.

"I just met him once and only needed to send emails and contact people to come to the conference. I had to use my own laptop and printer. When I found out he is a skelm, I decided to move back to Oudtshoorn but ek soek my geld.”

The City of Cape Town confirmed that the client booked the Conference Room at Athlone Stadium for 23 and 29 April.

Reverend Rodney Naidoo slammed Lezaan's accusations and said he will pay his PA on Wednesday when he gets his money.

The Reverend says: “My intention is to assist Casey for her trip to Sweden. We took up an offering and I counted the money but it was only R160.

"I still have the envelopes but don’t just want to give them that R160, we are organising a sangaand on 17 May. The money I get for Casey, I am going to sort that out also."