By Ciaran Ryan

A technology developed two decades ago by the US military to stop germ warfare has found its way to South Africa in the time of the Coronavirus. It was brought by the Church of Scientology and is being used to decontaminate the Midrand Police Station and church facilities in Kyalami.

The product is called Decon 7 (Decontamination 7, 7 being the highest level of decontamination in existence). When the 21-day lockdown was announced this week by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the international headquarters of the church in Los Angeles mobilised teams to decontaminate church facilities and then spread out from there to surrounding communities and essential hot spots.

“As soon as it became apparent that we were facing an international threat with the outbreak of this highly communicable virus, our International Office made sure we received direction and rapid training. So, when our community partner, Midrand Police Station Commander Brigadier Tsotsotso called on us for assistance, we were able to respond with an effective solution within hours,” said a Scientology Volunteer Minister spokesperson in a statement.  “In Johannesburg our teams sanitised all our facilities within 48 hours. From there, using Decon 7, we sanitised the Midrand Police Station itself as well as old age homes, orphanages, township areas and even private homes and guest lodges in our neighbourhood. It is our guiding principle that there is nothing too big or too small for us to take on. It’s what we believe and it’s what we live”.

The Volunteer Minister Corps is now working with the Department of Social Services Gauteng to reach further into the Gauteng Province, which has been hardest hit by the virus. Next they will be implementing training on sanitation and decontamination and are in the process of bringing in more equipment and Decon 7 liquid to expand the decontamination drive.