Hallucinating priest lost in mountains after holding secret prayer
A priest from Limpopo went to the mountains to hold a secret prayer, he then started hallucinating and could not find his way back.
![Hallucinating priest lost in mountains after holding secret prayer](https://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/a-protestant-pastor-4572875_960_720.jpg.optimal.jpg?#)
A 33-year-old priest had to be rescued by police after he was trapped and hallucinating on the Chuenespoort Mountains in the Lebowakgomo policing area outside Polokwane in Limpopo.
The Zionist Priest from Makgofe village outside Seshego, George Mondane, reportedly went to the mountains in the early hours of Monday 5 September 2022 to have a secret prayer session.
LIMPOPO PRIEST TRAPPED IN MOUNTAINS
Following his secret prayer, the priest started to feel uneasy and hallucinated and that is when he lost his way back, according to police.
Police further said the priest also realised that he ran out of food and water and frantically wandered around the mountains, fortunately his phone was fully charged and managed to call for help.
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Spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Melesela Ledwaba said following a search operation by members of the SAPS Air Wing and Water Wing Rescue Unit, the victim was safely rescued around 18:00. He was then treated for minor dehydration and shock before he was taken home.
![priest Limpopo](http://www.thesouthafrican.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/a-protestant-pastor-4572875_960_720.jpg)
Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe warned community members to be extra cautious when exercising or performing their rituals at hazardous places as such often results in resources being diverted from crime prevention activities for search and rescue operations.
“We however commend the members for succeeding in rescuing the victim alive,” Hadebe said.
PASTOR SENTENCED FOR STEALING CONGREGANT’S FIREARMS
The founder and leader of In His Presence Ministries Church in Limpopo, Pastor Walter Mashalane, was sentenced to five years in prison for theft of firearms, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The Senwabarwana Regional Court in Limpopo found that the 46-year-old approached one of his congregants and requested that she brings two firearms which were belonging to her husband with the intention of praying for them because he said he had negative premonitions about them in 2019. Read full story here.
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