PLUMTREE Town Council has banned open-air worship citing concerns of open defecation and littering among other environmental violations taking place at bush shrines.
The ban is publicised in Statutory Instrument (SI) 137 of 2025 under the Plumtree Town (Control of Worship in Open Spaces) By-laws, 2025.
“It is hereby notified that the minister responsible for Local Government has, in terms of section 229 of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15], approved the following by-laws,” the SI read.
“No person or persons shall gather in an open space for purposes of worship unless a permit has been issued by council after payment of a fee specified in the first schedule.”
The by-laws state that council shall designate places or areas of worship provided that they have adequate sanitary facilities of a temporary or permanent nature approved by council.
“The facilities should be inspected and approved by an environmental health practitioner in terms of the Public Health Act [Chapter 15:17],” the SI added.
“An application for a permit to conduct open-space worship shall be made to council and shall be in the form prescribed by council upon payment of the fee prescribed in the first schedule.
“The council may or may not approve such application taking into account the provisions of the Public Health Act [Chapter 15:17] and the Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] and other council by-laws including but not limited to anti-litter by-laws.”
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The application and the inspection report from the environmental health practitioner as well as building plans should be submitted to the council prior to construction.
The by-laws indicated that upon approval, council shall issue a permit with such conditions as it deems necessary in the circumstances.
“No person shall cut down any tree on the open space without prior council approval. Public worship shall be restricted from 5am to 6pm and the days of worship shall be as stated in the permit,” the by-law read.
“Time extension may be granted by council upon written application by interested persons, at a fee specified in the first schedule."
The SI stipulates that council shall cancel a permit for any person who fails to comply with any conditions of the permit.
“Any person who fails to return the permit upon being notified to do so in terms of subsection (4) shall be liable to a fine specified in the second schedule,” the by-law read.
“Any person, who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of these by-laws shall be liable to a fine specified in the second schedule.”
There is a proliferation of bush churches, mainly those who wear white garments — apostolic sects — popularly known as mapostori.
