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	Sexual Abuse Claims Rock Central Jo'burg Church Weekend Post September 15, 2009 http://www.weekendpost.co.za/article.aspx?id=471856 Johannesburg – Teenagers living at the Central Methodist church here were being sexually and physically abused and recruited by adults to commit crime, it was reported yesterday. As a result, scores of children had left. One child reportedly claimed teachers were coercing young girls to perform sexual favours with promises of toiletries, clothes and food. Yesterday a Central Methodist Church teacher accused of sexually abusing a Zimbabwean girl was suspended and told to leave the church premises pending an investigation, Bishop Paul Verryn said. This was the second time the teacher had faced allegations of sexual abuse, Verryn said. Earlier this year, a case against him and two other teachers – one of whom had since died – was "thrown out of court", he said. The teacher was receiving counselling. The Methodist Church has condemned the allegations of abuse at the church, where hundreds of Zimbabweans have sought refuge. "We, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, are gravely concerned about the situation and are committed to doing everything within our power to assist the investigations and redress the situation," it said. Johannesburg police meanwhile denied that Zimbabwean children were being sexually abused at the church. No cases had been opened and the church's management said it had not heard of any case, said Captain John Maluleke.
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