Shembe Church announces new leader

THE newly-appointed Inkosi of the Thembezinhle branch of the Shembe Church could play a decisive role in resolving the church’s legal challenges, church members have said.

The church’s former leader, Vela Shembe, died earlier this month.

Phinda Shembe, Vela’s half-brother, has been appointed as his successor as leader of the church.

The announcement was made in the church’s quarters in Mtwalume on the South Coast of Durban at the weekend. The announcement of Vela’s successor was expected to be made on December 16 to give the family and church members time to mourn.

However, it was postponed after the church’s lawyer asked for more time to attend to some issues.

The spokesperson of the church, Nkululeko Mthethwa, said it was important that the new leader be announced before the church’s members embarked on their annual pilgrimage to the Nhlangakazi Mountain on January 1.

Yesterday, Mthethwa said: “We cannot describe what kind of a leader he would be as he has just assumed this position, but in terms of his character he is a very humble and a dedicated man.

“By profession, he is an attorney; he has been running his own legal practice for the past 21 years and I believe that he is based in Durban. We are quite pleased the church will be led with someone with an astute legal mind like him; that is something that is going to be of great value especially in these times.”

At the time of his death, Vela had won a bruising legal battle against his nephew Mduduzi Shembe regarding the leadership of the church. Mduduzi leads the bigger branch of the church at Ebuhleni.

Mthethwa said Phinda had been nominated by Vela to succeed him as the church’s leader. “In the history of the church it has only happened once that the role of leading the church has gone from father to son.” Vela’s attorney, Trevor Nkosi, confirmed that Phinda Shembe had been the late leader’s preferred choice.