The leader of a smaller faction of the Nazareth Baptist Church‚ popularly known as the Shembe Church‚ has been declared the rightful leader of the church in a judgment handed down by the Durban High Court on Tuesday.
Judge Achmat Jappie ruled in favour of Vela Shembe‚ who is the leader of the Thembezinhle Church‚ who was fighting for control of the 5-million strong church.
The judgment brings to an end a five-year succession battle after the death of the church leader‚ Vimbeni Shembe‚ in 2011.
Vela Shembe left the court in high spirits while his rival and cousin‚ Mduduzi Shembe - Vimbeni's son - who leads the biggest faction Ebuhleni‚ left the court dejected.
The losing faction will be appealing the judgment.
They have also been ordered to pay the costs.
Members of the Ebuhleni faction ululated in celebration as their leader Mduduzi Shembe left the court‚ probably in anticipation that he was victorious. But as soon as news broke that he had lost the case‚ the jovial mood turned into a sombre one.
Members of the winning faction took to the street on the other side of the court in celebration. They danced and sang.
Both leaders were escorted out of court in different directions amid a heavy police presence.
- TMG Digital/Durban Newsroom
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