a Well-known gospel artist and preacher has been dumped by his wife because of infidelity.

a Well-known gospel artist and preacher has been dumped by his wife because of infidelity.

He has also been forced to resign from his church.

Pastor Malibongwe Gcwabe, of the Assemblies of God church in Mdantsane, resigned after details of his relationship with his 19-year-old backing vocalist surfaced recently.

Although he claims that he has not been dumped by his wife Lutho, she confirmed to Sowetan that she left Gcwabe after both he and his girlfriend Amanda Matoto confessed to having an affair for two years.

"I shared a house with this girl. We used to pray and sing together. When they started having an affair, he started being abusive emotionally and physically.

"When I asked about the relationship he confessed and said he was a Xhosa man and all men had affairs. He rudely told me to get over it."

Lutho, who was also a backing vocalist as well as Gcwabe's manager, said this was not the first time that Gcwabe had cheated on her.

She claimed that before they got married, Gcwabe impregnated his own relative. She also left their 4-year-old daughter with him.

"I still love him but I cannot stay in a relationship where I am not loved and respected. All I want to do now is to establish myself as an artist."

Lutho said Gcwabe decided to resign before the church disciplinary hearing.

But Gcwabe denied he resigned because of his infidelity.

He said he decided to leave to start his own church.

"I'm born again and I have a calling. I left the church because I want to extend the kingdom."

Senior pastor at Assemblies of God Church Lurwengu Ntombela confirmed that Gcwabe had resigned but refused to comment further.