Adds explanation of how court came to its decision to choose one of the two “heirs”. 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 judgement handed 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 five-million strong church.The judgement brings to an end a five-year succession battle after the death of the church leader Vimbeni Shembe in 2011.During the marathon trial‚ Mduduzi Shembe‚ 56 had told the court that it was the church's tradition that if the leader of the church died‚ the son took over.However Vela Shembe‚ 54‚ provided a letter to the court which he said had been written by his brother‚ Vimbeni Shembe‚ before he died in 2011 anointing him as his successor.The court ruled that Mduduzi had failed to prove that the late leader‚ Vimbeni‚ ever nominated him as the heir.“I feel today that the past leader is vindicated after being hurled with insults as a person who cannot be trusted because he nominated two leaders for one position‚” said Vela Shembe.He left the court in high spirits while Mduduzi Shembe left the court dejected.The losing faction will be appealing the judgement. 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 sombre.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/The Times..