Shembe conflict rages on in court
FACTION FIGHT: VIDEO EVIDENCE IN LEADERSHIP WAR Two leaders and a church group split down the middle – as a court decides who will lead the flock.
Senior pastors from the Ebuhleni faction of the Shembe Church were yesterday absent at the Durban High court. Their absence has brewed allegations that the faction has lost the support of congregants in the matter before court.
For the first time since the case started in 2011, only few members of the Ebuhleni faction were seen outside court.
Only two members were inside the court room that is usually packed with equal number of representatives from both factions.
The streets near the court building are usually painted white with congregants from the Ebuhleni faction dressed in white.
“Their absence is raising eyebrows. They see the direction of the case and can see that their case doesn’t hold water,” said the members of the Themezinhle faction.
The case went to court in 2011, shortly after the death of its leader, Vimbeni Shembe. The successor confl ict led to a split at Ebuhleni, and Thembezinhle faction was established.
While one leader claims to have a letter declaring him as the rightful leader, another claims to have been nominated verbally.
The case could not proceed yesterday. The matter was postponed to today to allow the court to complete the transcript of a video evidence.
‘ They can see the direction of the case, and that their case doesn’t hold water’ Themezinhle member, Shembe faction