A viral video showing a group of young women inside a house smoking shisha and drinking alcohol while dressed in ZCC regalia has ignited fierce debate across South African social media.
The clip, which spread rapidly on X, Facebook and WhatsApp groups, has drawn heavy criticism from church members and the public, with many accusing the women of undermining the values and image of the ZCC church.
In the video, the women are seen relaxing, laughing and partying while still wearing church attire, a sight that has shocked viewers who believe religious regalia should be treated with respect. Others questioned whether the footage was staged for content creation or reflected genuine behaviour.
“This is disrespectful,” wrote one user. “Church uniform is not a costume.”
The backlash comes at a sensitive time for the ZCC, which was recently dragged into controversy after an unrelated incident involving a woman linked online to the church whose explicit video was alleged to have surfaced on African Casting. That earlier scandal is now being referenced again as critics claim the church’s image is under growing strain.
While some users called for the church to take action, others urged caution, warning against jumping to conclusions without knowing the full context behind the video. A smaller group defended the women, arguing that church members are human and entitled to private lives.
At the time of publication, the ZCC church had not released an official statement regarding the latest video.
As the footage continues to circulate and opinions remain sharply divided, one thing is clear: the video has reopened a wider conversation about faith, public conduct and the power of viral content in shaping reputations overnight.