The Zion Christian Church (ZCC) is the biggest in SA. The 2001 census recorded 5m members. But not all these people fall under the largest of the ZCC churches, under Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, which was the church the FM approached.
It has been estimated that Lekganyane's followers account for at least 2m members - making it the largest single church in SA.
And the ZCC is not only the largest church - it is also a very large business.
Trying to get a handle on the financial scope and the management of the ZCC was something the FM pursued with vigour. But it was clear from the outset that our interest in the church was unwelcome. We were repeatedly fobbed off with increasingly odd behaviour. Faxes seemed to disappear between the FM office and the ZCC. Phone conversations with the church's general secretary, Moshato Moshaba, were almost incomprehensible; it was impossible to understand whether we would be able to interview any of the church elders, or indeed Lekganyane, or not.
The communication deteriorated further, with phone calls not being returned until finally the FM received a letter which said our request for information "is not approved".
Numerous sources tell the FM that the church's business interests are extensive, yet detail is scant. It is understood that the church not only sells its traditional blessed tea and coffee but also a range of other groceries to its members, including sugar, cooking oil and maize meal. No figures are available.
While looking for information from the nonprofit organisation directorate on the ZCC database, the FM saw a reference to the ZCC Chamber of Commerce. When we requested the file it could not be found.
The church owns a company called Kganya, which means star - the ZCC's symbol. Kganya sells burial and personal injury insurance polices and has done so since 1995.
According to Kganya's website, these schemes are underwritten by African Life Assurance and have 280 000 paid-up members. The monthly membership costs are R23. Kganya earns a 10% commission on all policies sold.
The website says the church and the insurance business are separated, with proceeds from Kganya going towards a multimillion-rand clinic and the upgrading of a school.
Lekganyane is a director of at least a dozen companies and owns shares in a bus company - not surprising, given the vast numbers of people who make the twice-yearly trip to the hilly compound of Moria.
He also owns a third share in a Polokwane-based butchery.
The Sowetan (owned by 50% FM owner, Avusa) had ambitions of partnering the ZCC to get its publication out to the church's members.
Editor Thabo Leshilo says it would be any newspaper's dream to be able to distribute newspapers to the ZCC membership. But the discussions with the church went nowhere.
Telecom group Blue Label Investments is one of only a handful of ZCC's commercial deals that are in the public domain.
ZOK Containers is the product of a partnership between Blue Label, the ZCC, and football teams Orlando Pirates and Kai zer Chiefs.
Products ranging from airtime to groceries are sold from these containers, which are placed in rural areas.
About 300 ZOK containers will be operational by the end of the year and 3 000 by the end of next year.
ZOK CE Trevor Theledi says the football teams and the church do not look at it as a profit centre but rather as a social upliftment project aimed at creating jobs in rural areas. The ZCC owns 23% of it, the football teams 20% each and Blue Label will own the remaining shares.
Theledi declined to give further details on the ZOK shareholder agreement because "there is a lot of sensitivity around it".
He said it was not particularly difficult doing business with the ZCC. I don't recall asking for information and not getting a response back within a few days. They have amazing controls."
The church's lack of interest in secular life is well-known. It has even refused to participate in the SA Council of Churches' working group on tax issues facing the religious sector. After attending one meeting, its delegate did not return.
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