A New Beacon Rises in the Eastern Cape: Scientology Inaugurates Landmark Church in Gqeberha
A New Beacon Rises in the Eastern Cape: Scientology Inaugurates Landmark Church in Gqeberha
Blog Article
GQEBERHA, South Africa — The heart of Nelson Mandela Bay pulsed with celebration as civic leaders, citizens, and parishioners gathered in Market Square for the grand opening of the new Ideal Church of Scientology Eastern Cape. The building, a meticulously restored 10-story landmark overlooking Algoa Bay, was unveiled as a new center for spiritual growth and community upliftment.
Under the clear skies of South Africa’s Sunshine Coast, the opening ceremony was led by Mr. David Miscavige, ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion. “When Africa calls, who could ever resist?” he told the crowd. “As you take hold of this Ideal Org, you inherit a responsibility: to fulfill Africa’s ever-present call for freedom.”
More than a religious event, the occasion highlighted the Church’s long-standing commitment to humanitarian work in South Africa. Numerous dignitaries paid tribute to the Church’s role in the nation’s social fabric. Prince Sonwabile Ndamase, cultural icon and designer of garments for Nelson Mandela, movingly recalled the Church’s presence during the pandemic. “Your Volunteer Ministers came into our homes, villages and cities. The yellow jackets became a symbol of help and hope in our darkest alcohol hour.”
Ms. Patricia Mokwala from the National Department of Social Development commended the Church’s social impact: “You teach something revolutionary—that the solution comes from within. You are awakening strength across South Africa.”
Also honored was the Church’s use of L. Ron Hubbard’s drug rehabilitation methodology, known as Narconon. Rev. Thabang Xaba recounted the story of a young man saved from the edge of ruin: “Spiritual confusion turned into newfound purpose,” he said.
Inside the new Ideal Org, visitors are welcomed by a Public Information Center featuring more than 1,000 multimedia exhibits on Scientology’s beliefs and its global humanitarian programs. These include human rights education, drug prevention, literacy training, and the world-renowned Volunteer Ministers program.
This is the Church’s fourth Ideal Org in South Africa, joining a triangle of existing churches in Gauteng Province, and forming part of a global network that spans over 30 countries. The new Gqeberha church stands not only as a spiritual center but as a hub for community engagement and practical help—echoing a shared legacy of freedom and responsibility rooted in the very soil where Mandela once walked.
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