People passing through Church Square early this week were puzzled by the sight of a lone protestor outside the Cathedral, displaying placards that read, "Anglican Bishop kicks development org into touch – 30 pieces of silver!!", "Church chooses jackpot justice" and "Church conspires with fat cats." "Church kicks out Masibambane Development or of more than 25 yrs standing…" another poster reads. "…takes over its +R2 million investment… This is mad Bob with a velvet glove".
The protestor's name was Nondumiso Mahanje and she told Grocott's Mail that we should get the full story from her colleague.
He returned about half an hour later, introduced himself as Rommel Roberts and presented Grocott's Mail with two huge A2-printouts, clearly also designed for display.
In the first, titled "My personal testimony", against the background of his own "fair share of pain and suffering including spells of imprisonment" in the struggle against apartheid, in giant print he decries what he describes as the "very unchristian like behavior" of representatives of the Anglican church in Peddie and the Diocese of Grahamstown.
"I also came to the conclusion that I have to stop accepting and remaining silent about so many issues that I confront in my struggles to overcome poverty and deprivation in our rural communities through organisations like Masibambane, Hilltop Empowerment Centre, Isinamva and others".
In the second, under the heading, "Masibambane: A matter of justice", he begins, "How the Anglican Church has crushed the once-hopeful and positive spirit of a dedicated persons in Peddie".
Rommel told Grocott's Mail that Masibambane, a small development organisation in Peddie, had been kicked out of its premises on land that belonged to St Peter's, the Anglican church in the town.
The protest, he said, was to bring the plight of the people who benefited from the centre to the attention of the public. Grocott's Mail is still investigating Roberts's claims and will carry the report next week, along with a response from the Church.
People passing through Church Square early this week were puzzled by the sight of a lone protestor outside the Cathedral, displaying placards that read, "Anglican Bishop kicks development org into touch – 30 pieces of silver!!", "Church chooses jackpot justice" and "Church conspires with fat cats." "Church kicks out Masibambane Development or of more than 25 yrs standing…" another poster reads. "…takes over its +R2 million investment… This is mad Bob with a velvet glove".
The protestor's name was Nondumiso Mahanje and she told Grocott's Mail that we should get the full story from her colleague.
He returned about half an hour later, introduced himself as Rommel Roberts and presented Grocott's Mail with two huge A2-printouts, clearly also designed for display.
In the first, titled "My personal testimony", against the background of his own "fair share of pain and suffering including spells of imprisonment" in the struggle against apartheid, in giant print he decries what he describes as the "very unchristian like behavior" of representatives of the Anglican church in Peddie and the Diocese of Grahamstown.
"I also came to the conclusion that I have to stop accepting and remaining silent about so many issues that I confront in my struggles to overcome poverty and deprivation in our rural communities through organisations like Masibambane, Hilltop Empowerment Centre, Isinamva and others".
In the second, under the heading, "Masibambane: A matter of justice", he begins, "How the Anglican Church has crushed the once-hopeful and positive spirit of a dedicated persons in Peddie".
Rommel told Grocott's Mail that Masibambane, a small development organisation in Peddie, had been kicked out of its premises on land that belonged to St Peter's, the Anglican church in the town.
The protest, he said, was to bring the plight of the people who benefited from the centre to the attention of the public. Grocott's Mail is still investigating Roberts's claims and will carry the report next week, along with a response from the Church.
