IT seems the fight over the Shembe Church leadership will not end soon.
This after more than 20 000 members from the Ebuhleni faction joined the battle.
The members marched barefoot from King Dinuzulu Park to Durban City Hall on Tuesday, 28 September.
They sang and declared they wouldn’t accept any other leader except Inkosi Mduduzi “uNyazi LweZulu” Shembe, whose name came crashing down on 22 June when the Constitution Court ruled he is not the rightful leader. The court also ruled uNyazi must give all the church assets to the rightful leader, vacate the Ebuhleni church headquarters, and pay all legal costs. The church leadership battle dates back to 2011 following the passing of the former leader, Inkosi Vimbeni “uThingo LweNkosazana” Shembe. During his funeral on 3 April, two names were announced as his successors.
The first name was uNyazi LweZulu, who was announced by Inkosi Mqoqi Ngcobo of Amaqadi Tribal Authority, who was close to Vimbeni. The second name was Inkosi Vela “Imisebe yeLanga” Shembe, who was announced by Vimbeni’s lawyer, Zwelabantu Buthelezi. The matter was dragged through various courts until it reached the Constitutional Court. All courts ruled in favour of Inkosi Vela Shembe.
But, the Ebuhleni faction members were clear they would not ditch their leader even though he was discredited by the courts.
“Our Constitution says everybody has a right to the religion of their choice, but we have been denied that right. We are being forced to follow a leader we don’t want. Today, we want to say, Ramaphosa, do something about this situation,” said the convener of the march, Nkosinathi Makhanya.
“We see God in uNyazi, not in the other leader who is being shoved down our throats,” said Makhanya. He said they were tired of living in fear that one day their leader would find himself without a home.
“Have you ever heard of a person being chased out of his own home?” he said.
Premier Sihle Zikalala’s adviser, Nhlanhla Ngidi, signed their memorandum and promised to pass it on to Zikalala.
Thembezinhle faction spokesman, Nkululeko Mthethwa said they were not offended by the march, in any way.
“Every citizen has a right to march and grieve. They’re raising their concerns with Ramaphosa, not us. But we feel they’re speaking to us indirectly. When they say Ebuhleni is a home not a mission, they are welcome to bring evidence to prove that. When they say a leader is being shoved down their throat, they’re missing the point as the church constitution says, a successor is chosen by a current leader and all the three witnesses in court testified to that.”
