Good Hope Centre latest: Nigerian pastor livid after bid is ‘rejected’
· The South African
Nigerian pastor John Anosike has responded to Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’s recent comments that the former’s R135million bid to purchase the Good Hope Centre had been rejected.
The preacher has even hinted that xenophobia and public backlash had influenced the decision.
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Anosike’s application was filed in February during a large-scale auction of city-owned properties.
CAPE TOWN MAYOR SAYS GOOD HOPE CENTRE BID IS UP IN THE AIR
Speaking to local radio station 100.4 FM last week, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis gave an update on the sale of the Good Hope Centre.
Without mentioning John Anosike, Hill-Lewis claimed the bidder’s finance had fallen through during the adjudication process.
He said: “I don’t think that person actually had the money that they said they had. And so they are unable to pay for it”.
As a result, the mayor stated that the Good Hope Centre would be offered to the second-highest bidder, which he stated was a “mosque”.
He added that the second-highest bidder had placed a R130 million bid on the property and had included a property development proposal for affordable housing on the site.
NIGERIAN PASTOR HINTS AT XENOPHOBIA
In a statement over the weekend, John Anosike claimed that Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis’s comments about his Good Hope Centre bid.
The Nigerian preacher claimed that his organisation, New World Faith Ministries, did not receive a formal rejection letter, nor were they notified of any discrepancies in their application.
He called on the city officials to meet with him urgently to discuss the status of his bid, and the way forward.
In his statement, Anosike also hinted that the radio station presenter and the mayor’s comments were tinged with xenophobia. He demanded a public apology.
He wrote: “In light of the recent xenophobic attacks in the Republic of South Africa, it is imperative that individuals and institutions occupying positions of influence exercise care, accuracy and responsibility when addressing the public.
“The remarks in question raise serious concerns and require clarification. Is the church situated in Nigeria? Is the property under discussion Nigerian or intended to serve Nigeria? For the record, this is a church of Jesus Christ based in South Africa, with a predominantly South African congregation.
Anosike added that “no portion of the property would belong to Nigeria”.
He continued: “Describing the church as a ‘Nigerian church’ is therefore inaccurate and potentially harmful.
“Within the current climate of xenophobic hostility, such language may portray the church and its congregation as foreign entities and may unnecessarily expose them to prejudice, hostility or targeted attacks”.