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CENTRE OF DISPUTE: Reverend Hintsa Mqaba PHOTO: ALFRED MOSELAKGOMO

In June, the Mohlakeng, Randfontein, congregation, which had challenged Mqaba's removal, won its bid in the Johannesburg High Court to have him retained as their minister.

This was after the district's Bishop Shadrack Phakoane had chosen Reverend Lebogang Molekwane to replace Mqaba in February. Mqaba challenged the move in court and won.

But to Mqaba's dismay, the presiding national bishop, Fezile Lenye, announced during the church's conference in Durban at the weekend that Mqaba would have to move to another parish as per Phakoane's recommendation.

The location of the parish remains unspecified. Phakoane declined to comment on the matter when he was contacted by Sowetanyesterday.

Instead, he referred this newspaper to general secretary ThembekileDyantjie, who could not be reached.

Mqaba confirmed Lenye's announcement about his transfer, but declined to comment further.

A source close to Mqaba said he was planning to again challenge in court the announcement of his imminent move from the Randfontein circuit.

Said the source: "He was very shocked when Bishop Lenye made that announcement on Friday. He feels the church is in contempt of court and has indicated that he will go to the court again should Lenye's announcement be followed through."

The source added: "The conference is also not working in the interest of congregants because the majority of members (200 of the 231) want Mqaba to remain our minister but they don't want that."

In June this year, the Johannesburg High Court ruled that Mqaba's removal as priest of the Randfontein circuit of the Methodist Church in Africa was unconstitutional and must be set aside.

The court also ordered the church's head office to rescind its decision to transfer Mqaba from the circuit and to retain his services.

The Randfontein circuit had taken its mother body, the Methodist Church in Africa, to court following a decision by the main church to remove Mqaba. Most of the congregants were against this move and decided to take legal action.

With the support of the church council, the smaller branch accused the main branch of abusing its powers.

The Randfontein church contended that the decision to remove Mqaba was contrary to procedure, unlawful and violated its own constitution and that of the country.

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Sat May 25 19:33:03 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 15, 2012

guiliano

@Mqaba-ahhhhh!!!!!! Zanzoloooooo.
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Oct 15, 2012

Pointman

No even the churches are operating in a civilized manner any more. The Shembe church, catholic and now methodist church are displaying anarchist tendencies.
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Oct 15, 2012

Ntumbane

This world is coming to an end.Out of the 231 congregants 31 do not want Bishop Mqaba at the Randfontein circuit. This means if Mqaba is retained as the court ordered these 31 congregants will have no option except change churches/branches meaning they are going to travel long distances.Sowetan what is the reason behind this infighting in the house of the lord.Please shed light so that we have a better understanding why the minority of this church does not want Mqaba to lead them. I thought this could only happen in political circles.How wrong I was?
Lord have mess on us.
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Oct 15, 2012

Ntumbane

Lord have mess on us.
................................

Lord have mercy on us.
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Oct 15, 2012

MGEEZ

Thixo kaSirayeli yiba nenceba kuthi thina boni abalusizi. Yenza ngokwenceba yakho kuba thina asifanelwe ukubizwa ngegama lakho, Nkosi.
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Oct 15, 2012

jerico

nowadays the churches are as much dramatic as the politics.
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Oct 15, 2012

SosoNomnganga

Thank God it's Methodist Church of Africa (MCA) not Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA). This is just a faction that broke away from MCSA .
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Oct 15, 2012

BabyNono87

Hhawu, nabantwana baka John Wesley pho, hai bo, i'm disappointed, ayifani namaWesile ke le..........
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Oct 15, 2012

MGEEZ

Ke abo banga bangaba zizityebi, beyela ekuhendweni, nasesibatheni, nasezinkanukweni ezininzi ezibubudenge ezenzakalisayo, zona zibatshonisayo abantu ekonakaleni, nasekutshabalaleni.

Kuba ukuthanda imali yingcambu yeento zonke ezimbi: Abathe abathile, ngokuzolulela kuko, balehlekana nokholo, bazibhodloza ngobuhlungu obuninzi.
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Oct 15, 2012

Mzabalazo

OCT 15, 2012
MGEEZ
Thixo kaSirayeli yiba nenceba kuthi thina boni abalusizi. Yenza ngokwenceba yakho kuba thina asifanelwe ukubizwa ngegama lakho, Nkosi.
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That's interesting, a God of another nation has to have mercy to the Gentiles, my brother has just specified which God should have mercy to South Africans, Isreal should be praised for letting us that opportunity to have their God have mercy on us.
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