By: Sandile Zikhali

Commuters from Umlazi are not happy with the sermons that are conducted by members of the Shembe congregation inside train coaches.

Members from this congregation are said to be using disturbing and upsetting words whenever conducting these sermons.  This has led to some passengers avoiding coaches that are filled with members from the Shembe congregation.

Fortunate Mncube, a commuter, said that she avoids sharing a coach with these people because of the words they use and things that they say when preaching.

“They disapprove of how modernised women are these days. They are against our hairstyles, they discourage our painted/long eyelashes, wearing trousers and the fancy cell phones we use,” Mncube said.

Metrorail’s Communications Officer, Langalakhe Zwane, said that what is being done by the Shembe preachers is unacceptable.

“Trains are not church halls where you can preach- people should choose whether they want sermons.  If we receive another complaint we will be forced to involve the police,” Zwane said.

A member of the Shembe Congregation, Zama Mazibuko, said that she is against the lambasting of women during sermons.

“Some people were banned to preach in these trains because of the words they use. The way they preach here is totally different from how they preach in our temples,” said Mazibuko.

One of the preachers, who wanted to be known only as Ngubo, said that they are only passing the message to the people with the intention of perpetuating their traditions.