AFTER months of bickering, Zion Christian Church leader Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane will undertake the eagerly-awaited DNA tests tomorrow to determine the paternity of a man claiming to be his son.

AFTER months of bickering, Zion Christian Church leader Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane will undertake the eagerly-awaited DNA tests tomorrow to determine the paternity of a man claiming to be his son.

Sowetan reported in May that a 20-year-old man calling himself Tshepo Barnabas Edward Lekganyane Junior is claiming R50000 monthly maintenance from the leader of Africa's biggest church.

Lekganyane Junior, of Orange Farm in the Vaal, approached the Johannesburg Family Court where he laid a claim to his filial link to the bishop.

He is accusing the charismatic man of the cloth of neglecting him while his "siblings" are trumpeting in the bishop's glory.

This saw senior magistrate Daniel Thulare summoning the clergyman to court.

But Lekganyane Junior's case appeared shaky when Emelia Lerata, a woman believed to be his mother, insisted he had mental problems.

He in turn hit back saying Lerata was not his biological mother. Although the two are staying together, Lekganyane Junior insisted his biological mother was Elizabeth Lekganyane, the bishop's wife.

"This boy disowned his own mother at court. He is adamant that Elizabeth is his mother," a source said yesterday.

Lekganyane Junior had earlier told Sowetan: "Emelia (Lerata) was our nanny while I was staying in Moria (the church's headquarters outside Polokwane). He stole me from my dad and mom and brought me up as her own son."

Now the bishop, Lerata and Lekganyane Junior will undertake tests to determine the paternity and maternity of the claimant.

Sowetan also understands that this was made a court order after all parties finally agreed to submit for tests.