JUDGE Achmat Jappie is expected to hand down his judgment in the Shembe case today.
The court was packed and the factions gathered outside yesterday as Jappie reviewed the testimonies given by 22 witnesses.
Security was beefed up inside and outside the court. Hundreds of church members from the eBuhleni faction, led by Mduduzi Shembe, gathered at Albert Park near the Durban High Court.
Church members of the Thembezinhle faction, led by Vela Shembe, gathered in Anton Lembede Street.
While Vela was with those in court, Mduduzi was seen outside the building for a few minutes.
The Shembe leadership battle between the late inkosi Vimbeni Shembe’s son Mduduzi and his cousin Vela began in 2011.
After Vimbeni’s death, the deed of nomination produced by his lawyer suggested Vimbeni had nominated Vela as his successor.
But at his funeral, there was confusion in the church when inkosi Mqoqi Ngcobo announced to the mourners that Vimbeni had nominated Mduduzi as his successor.
Among the testimonies Jappie revisited was that of Zwelabantu Buthelezi, Vimbeni’s legal representative.
“Buthelezi said Vimbeni told him he did not want fights to take place in the church when he died. He said before his death, Vimbeni had nominated his cousin Vela Shembe through a document known as a deed of nomination.”
