Penwell Dlamini

Penwell Dlamini

Another Sunday went by without any service for members of six Methodist Church branches who are demanding the removal of a Zola-based priest.

Disgruntled churchgoers are continuing with a protest that began last week. The congregants are demanding the removal of Reverend Zola Mtshiza.

The six branches that constitute the Zola circuit are Naledi, Hector Pieterson in Dobsonville, Emndeni, Moletsane, Protea and Zola township.

Mtshiza heads the circuit.

Church members accuse Mtshiza of being dictatorial and mismanaging church matters.

There is a running battle between Mtshiza and the Young Men's Guild (YMG), also known as Amadodana AseWeseli.

"On May 18 we had a meeting at which we told him of our unhappiness, mainly his dictatorial attitude and mismanagement of funds," YMG leader Collin Moleleki said.

Moleleki said after the meeting Mtshiza sent a letter to all branches in which he referred to the YMG as "barbarians".

He suspended the YMG and that sparked the protest.

"I once asked Mtshiza why there was no progress with the building of our church in Protea, though money was coming in," said Aaron Motswene, another church member.

"He told me not to bother him because I am not on the finance committee."

Having heard of the protest, Mtshiza and his family fled the mission house.

Earlier Mtshiza admitted to Sowetan that he had problems with the YMG and that the church building in Protea had cost the church R900000.

But yesterday he refused to comment and referred Sowetan to the church's Gauteng head Bishop Paul Verryn, who was not available.