| JOHANNESBURG. Religious and scientific experts say | | | | "To make that many adults behave in such a |
| there is strong evidence that American televangelist | | | | profoundly silly manner, to hand over thousands in |
| Benny Hinn performed a "genuine verifiable miracle" in | | | | return for a 120-second shot at being written a |
| Johannesburg on the weekend. According to the | | | | cheque by some sort of imaginary heavenly cashier |
| experts, Hinn and his colleagues made thousands of | | | | – something more than idiocy, ignorance, naivety |
| dollars disappear from the bank accounts of | | | | and greed was at work here." |
| worshipers, before making the money reappear in | | | | The South African organizers of the weekend's |
| offshore accounts. | | | | gathering could not be reached for comment on the |
| Hinn's followers say there is nothing supernatural | | | | alleged miracle, but hotel staff said that they had last |
| about the movement of funds from South African to | | | | been seen checking out in the early hours of Sunday |
| American banks, but veteran observers of | | | | morning, "giving each high-fives and lighting cigars with |
| paranormal events are adamant that a verifiable | | | | smoldering R200 notes". |
| miraculous event took place. | | | | Meanwhile journalists at all of South Africa's major |
| The miracle was widely publicized over the weekend | | | | media stables are eagerly waiting to hear from any |
| by News24.com, which reported that Pastor Todd | | | | person who became a millionaire or billionaire |
| Koontz, one of Hinn's on-stage colleagues, told | | | | twenty-four hours after making their donation to |
| worshippers that God would turn them into | | | | Hinn's Miracle Crusade. |
| millionaires or billionaires within twenty-four hours if | | | | According to a leading Johannesburg editor, three |
| they donated $1,000 by credit card. | | | | worshipers have come forward so far. |
| According to News24.com, hundreds of worshipers | | | | "The first two were a couple who got an email from |
| mobbed the stage with their credit cards after | | | | the widow of a Nigerian prince, promising them $200 |
| Koontz told them that the window of opportunity | | | | million if they sent a $500 administration fee," he said. |
| for the blessing was only two minutes. | | | | "Ag shame, they were pretty stoked, and they'd |
| This morning investigators from the Vatican, as well | | | | already sent the money, so we didn't say anything." |
| as representatives of the scientific community, | | | | He said the third had been a Ms Frillypanties |
| agreed that a miracle had taken place. | | | | Mazakadza, who said she had been given $600 million |
| "A fool and his money are easily parted, but this was | | | | at work the day after attending the Crusade. |
| something special," said head investigator, Cardinal | | | | However it was quickly established that this had been |
| Dante Purgatorio. | | | | a tip at the Harare coffee shop where she works as |
| Psychologist Gunter Glibb agreed. | | | | a waitress. |