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UNHOLY CHAOS: Some of the members of St Zeno Catholic Church at Letlhabile near Brits in North West protest outside the church yesterday. PHOTO: Andrew Mahlaba

CHAOS erupted at St Zeno Catholic Church at Letlhabile township near Brits in North West yesterday.

About 50 church members stood outside the church building and refused to enter the church until their priest, Father Bernard Rakeketsi, stepped down.

Sowetan was present when protesting church members insisted they had no confidence in their priest. They are accusing him of improper conduct and maladministration. They said Rakeketsi's leadership was destroying the church.

Church spokesman Steve Marokana, however, dismissed the allegations, saying the protesters were trying to settle scores with the priest.

"These people just want to drag the name of the priest through the mud. He is a man of God and has been faithful and truthful to the congregation," he said.

Marokana said the tension started after Rakeketsi suspended the church choir.

"They are just angry because the priest suspended the choir for misbehaving. They were drinking (liquor) every weekend and engaging in sex with one another at parties. The priest saw it was best to discipline them by suspending the choir."

One of the church members, who did not want to be named, agreed with the group about the priest.

"He swears at us in church during services."

Some members complained that since April this year, they had been demoralised by happenings in the church and had opted not to go to church.

Only four members attended the service yesterday. After Sowetan's arrival, church elders helped the priest escape through a back door. But angry congregation had locked the gate, preventing his car from leaving.

One of the church elders said he was thinking of going to another church because the squabbles were taking their a toll on his family.

Rakeketsi is serving the third year of his five-year term. The 500-strong congregation elected him as its priest in January 2009, a month after Father Thabiso Ledwaba was sent to a missionary school overseas.

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Thu Jun 20 08:23:24 SAST 2013 ::

Sep 17, 2012

Mosquer

The signs of end times.
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Sep 17, 2012

Mosquer

"He swears at us in church during services."

Ge a le roga why le sa tsamaye? Problem le tšhaba nnete
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Sep 17, 2012

McCountryMan

"They were drinking (liquor) every weekend and engaging in sex with one another at parties""

The End is near
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Sep 17, 2012

lamolath

yonke indawo.....mozabalazo wa zivumela yonke indawoooo ....mozabalazo wa zivumela le...naaaa..leeeeee....le naaa...le
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Sep 17, 2012

Mellow

Am sure someone is gonna blame devil again

Mosquer?????????????
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Sep 17, 2012

Papage

It is sad story of our Churches, what went wrong? Where are morals?
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Sep 17, 2012

Papage

The Church is run by several people, not the Priest alone, what are they saying, if you chase the Pirest away, what about them? are they agreing with your drinking and sex at church?
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Sep 17, 2012

RobinH

I am not religious. However, I believe that the pastor was completely correct to suspend the choir for activities which are certainly not in line with church policy. And for supposed CHristians to threaten their leader with violence!!!!! What kind of Christian is that?

As for the "end being nigh"... Don't make me laugh. This kind of thing has happened from time to time throughout history. You doomsday preachers just make me laugh.
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Sep 17, 2012

Voetzek

i dont see anything wrong engaging on sexual interciorse thats their pre-rogative
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Sep 17, 2012

Mdala

OMG the less said the better about these so called chrch shenanigans
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