Lesseyton Methodist Church to receive R2.5m facelift

The ANC has pledged R2.5m to upgrade the historical Lesseyton Methodist Church into a more modern heritage site.

The church was the focal point of this year’s provincial Heritage Day celebration, as it marked the venue’s 140th anniversary.

The Lesseyton Methodist Theological Training Centre, located on the church grounds, is a significant landmark with a rich history and is one of the sites which form the Eastern Cape’s Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route, within the broader Chris Hani Liberation Heritage Route.

The packed event was attended by King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo, King Dalimvula Matanzima, and other traditional leaders, as well as senior officials from the Eastern Cape government.

Premier Oscar Mabuyane said: “The ANC raised R2.5m.

“We want to ensure that the site is revived,” Mabuyane said.

He noted that the centre’s alumni included reverends Zacharias Richard Mahabane and Dr Ellias John Mqoboli, who played important roles in the national liberation struggle.

Mahabane was a politician and a Methodist priest who became ANC president in the 1920s and ‘30s.

According to the premier, the church was used for political gatherings, including meetings attended by prominent figures like Charlotte Maxeke, who played a significant role in the liberation struggle

“Maxeke was the only woman among the men. Today the country is nonsexist, nonracial, democratic and prosperous because of the work that was done years before.

“We are looking forward to declaring the church as a heritage site.”

Mabuyane said the Eastern Cape government planned to restore the church and turn it into a centre that provided services to the community. As part of this effort, the government donated a tractor with ploughing equipment.

“Community members will work with the church and the NPO to feed the people and the school nutritional programme can benefit.”

This year’s Heritage Day theme was “celebrating our cultural diversity in a democratic SA”.

“As a culturally diverse province, we must promote social cohesion and address gender-based violence, femicide, and moral decay.”

Chris Hani District Municipality mayor Lusanda Sizani said the municipality was set on addressing the water issues facing Lesseyton.

Sizani said they had conducted an oversight visit and had also recently constructed a borehole at the 92ha piece of church land.

A co-operative will be formed for the government to assist the community to develop the agricultural scheme.

King Hintsa Methodist Church of Southern Africa district vice bishop Luxolo Mantini said: “The place has been here for more than 140 years. The historical significance of this church is of the same level as Healdtown where Nelson Mandela.”

According to Mantini: “Lesseyton was a seminary to train priests of the Methodist church. It also had a high school section.”

Mantini said he believed this was the beginning of a new era of hope for the church and the people of Lesseyton.

“We are delighted that the centre will be revived. The soil will not sleep but will contribute to the livelihood of the people,” the vice bishop said.

Mantini urged the generations of this era to become help build society rather than destroy it.

“We must not be the type of people who destroy a clinic or a school when in need of a road.

“We should preserve the resources we have.”