Cosmo City, Johannesburg – March 2, 2026 – Shocking allegations have surfaced that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is misusing taxpayer-funded resources to protect Chiremba Hemnage, a Zimbabwean national accused of operating an illegal church in the heart of Cosmo City. Eyewitnesses and community leaders claim armed officers have been stationed outside Hemnage’s makeshift “temple” – a rented warehouse lacking proper registration – for weeks, turning it into a no-go zone for locals demanding accountability.
Hemnage, who entered South Africa illegally via porous Beitbridge borders, has built a controversial following by preaching prosperity gospel laced with unverified miracles. His “Zimbabwean Harvest Ministries” evades Home Affairs oversight, with no valid work permit or Section 21 non-profit status. Residents report nightly gatherings drawing hundreds, complete with loudspeakers blaring foreign hymns until dawn, fueling noise complaints and fears of money-laundering schemes.
“Why are our police guarding a foreign fugitive while crime ravages our streets?” fumed community watchdog Thabo Mthembu. Videos circulating on TikTok show SAPS vehicles idling protectively, prompting outcries of corruption. Sources whisper of high-level bribes, possibly linked to Hemnage’s ties to Harare political elites.
Home Affairs spokesperson Naledi Khumalo confirmed an ongoing investigation: “Illegal operations undermine our sovereignty.” Yet, SAPS Gauteng denied favoritism, calling claims “baseless.”
As outrage mounts, locals invoke Proverbs 22:8: “He who sows injustice will reap calamity.” Is this protection racket exposing deeper rot in law enforcement? Watch the embedded footage below and demand answers.
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