Riaan Swiegelaar, co-founder of the South African Satanic Church (SASC), stepped down as its presiding priest in 2022, citing the unconditional love shown to him by Christians as the reason for his resignation.
Markus Jooste’s Alleged Involvement
In an interview on the Wide Awake podcast, Riaan disclosed that former Steinhoff executive Markus Jooste was not only a Satanist but also a co-founder of the SASC.
Riaan signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) upon his resignation, which he claims was used to prevent him from speaking about his experiences.
Influence of High-Profile Figures
Riaan asserted that influential individuals, including CEOs, media personalities, and musicians, were involved in Satanism in South Africa.
He claimed that Markus funded legal measures to silence him, but with Markus’s passing, Riaan and his legal team can now proceed with the church’s deregistration.
Authorities Deregister the Church
Following Markus’s suicide, Riaan revealed that he is no longer bound by the NDA and can speak freely.
The church, which reportedly had 12,000 registered members, aimed for legitimacy and recognition as a religion, with gatherings initially held in a Century City building.
Church Membership and Operations
Riaan estimated that there are over 50,000 Satanists in South Africa, with many high-profile members.
Markus’s acquisition of a building in Century City facilitated in-person gatherings until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a shift to online meetings. The founders intended for the organization to be acknowledged as a legitimate religion.
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