Church mourns slain bishop

THOUSANDS of people from far and wide converged on KwaBhaca (formerly Mt Frere) for the funeral of murdered Methodist Church Bishop Thembinkosi Fandeleki yesterday.

The clergyman was killed a week ago in Mthatha in an incident which sent shockwaves throughout the province.

Attending his funeral were premier Phumulo Masualle, ANC chief whip in parliament Jackson Mthembu and other dignitaries.

Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA) presiding Bishop Ziphosihle Siwa called on Fandaleki’s killers to confess so that God could be merciful and forgive their deeds.

“I request and pray that those who killed him must come and confess and by that they will receive the forgiveness of the Lord.”

Siwa lambasted those within the church who fight for positions and even kill for them.

Earlier in the day, Fandaleki’s children gave a moving tribute to their father. They said they believed their father’s killers were among the mourners.

“They are listening and crying while they know that deep inside them they are the cause of this.

“Our father did not deserve to die like this,” said his daughter Nomzamo Fandaleki.

Nomzamo also raised concerns about rumours making rounds on the circumstances surrounding her father’s death.

“Some of you crucified my father and said all the bad things about him. Some of those who persecuted my dad are in this house now,” said Nomzamo.

Masualle said Fandeleki died at a time when he had a lot of work to do on moral regeneration. —