The 24-year-old head of End Times Disciples Ministries appeared in court on Monday, July 20, 2015.

Mnguni, who is out on R1500 bail (about KSh 12,300), said he does not keep the reptiles in his house or church and only catches them when needed.

He insisted that God gave him the power to to turn snakes into chocolate and rocks into bread.

Fake prophet tells followers to eat a snake claiming it had turned into chocolate

“God revealed a vision for me to change people’s lives. So far I have faced a lot of persecution from people and pastors around me. They say what I do is not from God but when they come to the service and listen to me preach they think otherwise,” International Business Times quotes the preacher.

Penuel Mnguni believes that according to Romans 14, a person with strong faith can eat anything including snakes.

As Tuko.co.ke earlier reported, the pastor is not new to controversy. In May,he made his congregation to strip down.

Penuel Mnguni’s church is in Soshanguve town, about 25 kilometres from Pretoria.