These internationals from Israel, the United States of America (USA), and France, the majority of whom came to the country to attend the church gathering, later tested positive for Covid-19 following the declaration of a state of emergency, effectively becoming the Free State’s first set of cases. In a statement, the church says the organisers never visited malls and the Freedom Square Township with the guests, implying the guests did so on their own accord. 

OFM News has seen pictures on social media placing one of the guests at an eatery located in a mall and at the township in question. This as the number of coronavirus cases in the country continues to rise sharply, with figures currently standing at 709, with 50 of those cases confirmed in the Free State. 

All five internationals have since been placed under quarantine at a Woodlands hotel, along with staff.  However, at that  point it was already too late, the internationals engaged with an estimated 600 guests during the event two weeks ago which included well-known writer and evangelist, Angus Buchan, and leader of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Kenneth Meshoe – the latter of whom attended a parliament sitting mere days later, where President Cyril Ramaphosa was present.

On Tuesday, the church released a lengthy statement asserting their position on the matter, distancing themselves from the organisation of the event and the arrival of two of the internationals, namely the Frenchman and the wife of one of the guests. On Wednesday, the Free State Health Department thanked the church for cooperating with the tracing of guests and urged more local churches to follow suit.

OFM News