Pastor Alph Lukau is in hot water after he supposedly raised a brought back a dead man back to life. A video of the "resurrection" was posted online and it immediately spread on social media.
The clip shows a pastor of Alleluia International Ministries of South Africa, Alph Lukau, standing over a coffin with a dead man who was later identified as Elliot. He was said to have been dead for three days already but after the pastor recited some sort of prayer or spell, the man sat up and they called it the "resurrection of the dead," The Straits Times reported.
The audience was amazed and they applauded the act. However, the authorities found this demonstration very disturbing and slammed pastor Lukau for the deed. They also labeled the whole thing as fraud and demanded an explanation from the pastor.
The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Commission) stated that they will call the pastor Lukau to enlighten them about his claims of his ability to resurrect a dead person.
The commission head, Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, told the media that he could not comprehend why the religious sector is not being regulated. The whole thing is obviously a fake and it would have not happened if regulations have been imposed on religious bodies.
"South Africa right now is in the wilderness and that is why we are witnessing these deplorable acts, abuses, and hoaxes, The Star quoted Mkhwanazi-Xaluva as saying. "There must be a regulation that will control traditional healers and religious leaders, as it is a profession like any other."
On the other hand, despite the uproar, AMI's spokesperson Busi Gaca still insists that pastor Lukau resurrected Elliot. This claim was contrary to the claims made by a senior member of the AMI church. They admitted that the "dead man" was alive before the "show" took place.
South Africa's iOL News reported that a criminal case was already filed against Alph Lukau. Bishop Elly Mogodiri filed a complaint about organized crime, fraud, and misrepresentation. He said that the charges are an attempt to stop and discourage "false prophets" from abusing the church for personal gain.
"I have seen too much pulpit greed and commercialization going on in the church, amongst other disturbing practices," the bishop said. "Right now we are witnessing the staged fraudulent and unfaithful act of resurrecting a deceased person in the church of Alleluia Ministries International (AMI) under the leadership of prophet Alph Lukau."
Finally, he closed his statement by saying, "I am aware and have been duly advised that this case falls within the ambit of organized crime, fraud, and misrepresentation amongst other misdemeanors."
