JOHANNESBURG — A prominent South African politician and pastor said God will judge the ruling African National Congress for “robbing the poor” and attempting to corrupt the church in a vote-buying scheme that mixed religion with politics.

The stern rebuke by Mmusi Maimane — former president of the main opposition party, Democratic Alliance, and now leader of the new party Build One South Africa — came after it was reported that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa of the ANC had pledged to build 1,000 houses for members of the Shembe Baptist Church.

Ramaphosa announced the pledge a few months before national elections, which will start on Wednesday and are considered the most important since the end of apartheid 30 years ago.

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Last week, news sites Scrolla.Africa and Isolezwe, had reported that the Shembe leader, Mduduzi Nyazilwezulu, had “rejected the R18million ($980,376.14) donation to upgrade the church’s headquarters at Ebuhleni” in KwaZulu-Natal.

But Ramaphosa’s spokesman Vincent Mangwenya denied the allegations.

“This story is not true, purely disinformation aimed at tarnishing the president’s name,” he said. “The president did not donate any money to the Shembe Church or any church for that matter. There wouldn't have been any government funds used in any case because that allocation would have not been enabled by any of our law. Even from his own pocket, the president will have no reason to donate so much money to one church. Worse, he is not even a member of the Shembe Church. So, the whole story is quite illogical and being driven by people with an axe to grind against the governing party, including the president.”

Politicians and kings have visited the church in the past to pray, including former President Jacob Zuma, currently president of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK). Formed in 1910, the church has 10 million worshippers.

The president of the Afrika Unite Congress, a political party formed by the former legal advisor of Shembe Church, Lizwi Ncwane said Ramaphosa “met with the leader and the church. There was an offer that was made.”

Ncwane said the church has its own internal policies to adhere to. As a result, the building project was not successful because church procedures and processes could not be respected.

“When you want to do something for the church you must understand that the church has got a spiritual person,” Ncwane said. “A spiritual person is a father to all, regardless of who is preference in terms of political affiliation. The unfortunate part is that President Ramaphosa is the president of the country and of his political party. So, if a political party wants to offer something to the church, it differs when that offer is being done by the government. We are very much cautious that we do not recklessly submit the church to any political stigma.”

He also said that as president of the AUC, “there must be a clear differentiation of the church as a spiritual institution and Afrika Unite Congress as a political institution. So, we have to tread carefully so that we don’t breach any certain barriers.”

Ramaphosa had said that the Shembe leader had informed him the church needed adequate housing for members and better loudspeakers for services. Members and church leaders currently live in shacks and tents.

“We believe that this project of 1,000 houses will help men and women to have a safe shelter whenever they are attending the church ceremonies,” Ramaphosa said. “The engineers and architects have approved this land as a suitable area for the project. Therefore, we are determined to start the work anytime soon. We will communicate with the committee members of the church who will compile a report and send it to the leader of the church. I have appointed Mdumiseni Ntuli to be a man in charge of this project.”

But Maimane questioned the president’s motivation for making such an offer.

“The ANC is so corrupt that it seeks to even corrupt the institutions that should be incorruptible,” he said. “Ultimately, this was nothing else but an election ploy. Would he have made the same donation next Sunday when there isn’t an election. He is doing it on the eve of the elections so as he can convince the church leadership that they should convince people to vote for the party. That is the system of corruption and patronage.”

He added: “Corruption is not a victimless crime, its victims are the poor. I really believe God will judge the ANC for that. I think my reading of Scripture, is that when you act in a manner that robs the most vulnerable in society, you really have taken assault to what God stands for.”

MK party spokesman Nhlalumo Ndhlela said Shembe leaders “are very principled in their approach to their religion and they stick to that. No amount of money or votes will sway them to what they believe it’s right or is wrong.”

Vicky Abraham is an investigative journalist based in South Africa and has reported for the Mail & Guardian, City Press, Assist News, the Nation newspaper in Nigeria and Nation Media Group in Kenya.