S.African 'prophet' sprays followers with insect killer
AFP
November 22, 2016 15:04 MYT
November 22, 2016 15:04 MYT
Photographs of Lethebo Rabalago spraying "Doom" aerosol on volunteers during his church service at the weekend in Limpopo spread fast on social media. -Pix for illustration only
A self-styled prophet in South Africa on Monday defended spraying his followers in the face with insect killer saying the practice healed people of their sins.
Photographs of Lethebo Rabalago spraying "Doom" aerosol on volunteers during his church service at the weekend in Limpopo, in the northwest of the country, spread fast on social media.
"Some people came with injuries but we sprayed them and they were healed," pastor Rabalago, 24, told the Times Live website.
"No one inspired me. I just believe in God for anything."
Rabalago -- quickly dubbed the "Prophet of Doom" -- said he was "glorifying God" by spraying his congregation at the Mount Zion General Assembly (MZGA) church.
"Everything here on Earth belongs to God. Petrol belongs to God. Doom belongs to God," he said.
Brand Tigers, which manufactures the well-known household spray, issued a statement calling on Rabalago to halt his ritual healing, calling it "alarming and extremely concerning".
"(We) want to make it very clear that it is unsafe to spray Doom Super Multi Insect Killer... into people's faces," it said.
"The packaging has very clear instruction and health warnings for humans which must be adhered to."
Brand Tigers added that anyone affected should wash their hands and face, avoid inhaling and seek medical attention.
Photographs from the MZGA showed several women, with their eyes tightly closed, being sprayed in the face by Rabalago.
The pastor said no one was injured, but declined to say how many devotees attend his church or how many were healed.