By Celani Sikhakhane
The leaders of the Shembe Church’s eKuphakameni faction, which lost many members after the 1976 breakaway of the popular eBuhleni faction, say they are still strong and will not join any other group.
Their statement comes after members of the eBuhleni faction, led by Mduduzi Shembe, asked the eKuphakameni leader, Inkosi Vukile Ncoyincoyi Shembe, to close his faction and join eBuhleni.
Recently, iNcoyincoyi led his followers at the old church buildings of eKuphakameni to start the July Pilgrimage in Inanda, near the Mahatma Gandhi Settlements.
He performed church rituals, including praying at the graves of late members.
eKuphakameni spokesperson Evangelist Thetha Ngiba told Scrolla.Africa that they will never leave their faction because their late leader, Prophet Johannes Gallile Shembe, predicted the 1976 breakaway.
“We believe that when he made that prophecy, he meant the church would cleanse itself and keep away those not following the church’s mandate. We believe we are the chosen ones who will never leave eKuphakameni,” said Ngiba.
In 2007, the leaders of the two factions, Inkosi Vimbeni uThingolwenkosazana Shembe and Vukile Ncoyincoyi Shembe, met, leading many to believe the factions would reunite.
Ngiba said they don’t care about numbers, but that the Holy Spirit unites them.
After the 1976 breakaway, the church split into over five factions.
Ngiba revealed that on the last weekend of July, they will perform the closing ceremony of uMgidi kaJuly (the annual July pilgrimage).
Pictured above: eKuphakameni Church leader Inkosi Vukile Ncoyincoyi Shembe leading the July Annual Pilgrimage.
Source: Shembe Church
