The family of a reverend who was gunned down in a hail of bullets say he had raised concerns about not feeling safe since he became embroiled in a leadership conflict which has rocked the Ethiopian Church of SA.
Rev Lizo Xolilizwe was shot several times by an unknown man who forced his way into his sister's home in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, a week ago while Xolilizwe was visiting her.
This was barely a week after he was elected to lead the Western Cape region by a camp which is opposed to the leadership of Bishop Johnson Luphuwana.
Xolilizwe's wife's Nonkosi Xolilizwe told TimesLIVE Premium on Wednesday she did not know why her husband was killed, but he had during sermons spoken about how he felt unsafe.
“He mentioned being concerned about his safety a couple of times in his sermons. In February, we had a sermon in Stellenbosch, in January in Stilfontein at a church conference, he had mentioned that he didn't feel safe,” she said.
Asked if she had asked him what was making him worry about his safety, she said: “It was because of the conflict at church which by now you know about.”
The conflict has led to multiple legal challenges, dismissals of leaders perceived to belong to the faction opposed to Luphuwana's leadership and other incidents, including members finding themselves locked out of church premises.
Xolilizwe had just been elected by one camp which held a gathering at the Klerksdorp Technical High School on April 28-30 where an interim structure to lead the church until the elective conference was elected.
He was chosen to lead its Western Cape region's temporary structure ahead of the conference.
The faction of the church led by Luphuwana had its gathering at Milner High School, also in Klerksdorp, on the same weekend.
The church's general secretary, Sandile Zondi, who is aligned with Luphuwana's group, told TimesLIVE Premium the church was “deeply saddened by the barbaric manner” of Xolilizwe's killing.
“It is our prayer that the culprit be found as soon as possible, which will allow the family to get some form of closure. While law enforcement agencies are busy with their work we appeal to all concerned to be thin on speculations in order for the family to focus on the preparations of laying to rest their beloved father, brother and uncle,” Zondi said.
Zondi said Xolilizwe contributed a lot of historical information, particularly when the church celebrated its 125th anniversary.
The year-long conflict saw members of the church have Luphuwana and his executive removed, scoring a legal victory after an Eastern Cape court ruling in October last year which was allegedly appealed.
The group, calling itself the Harsh Tag Movement, had approached the Dimbaza magistrate’s court demanding an interim committee be appointed to run the church until a new executive council is appointed.
The group successfully convinced magistrate Zola Mtyobo that Zondi should present all church records at a conference facilitated by the applicants. It accused Luphuwana and his executive, including Zondi, of staying at the helm despite their tenure expiring in 2021.
“It was appealed at the Eastern Cape High Court. The matter is awaiting sitting. As you know, when the matter is appealed the status quo remains as it was before the ruling,” Zondi said.
At one stage last year, Luphuwana launched a R4m defamation suit against members of his church, whom he accused of damaging his dignity and reputation.
Suspended Rev Jabulani Motsai, who is part of the Harsh Tag Movement and was put on “compulsory leave of absence” to apparently fix his marital problems, told TimesLIVE Premium that they believed Xolilizwe's death could be linked to the row.
“I don't have the evidence, but my gut feeling tells me his death is linked to what is happening in the church,” Motsai said.
He said Xolilizwe was a respected leader who commanded respect and following, especially in the Western Cape region of the church.
Xolilizwe will be buried on Saturday in Eersterivier in the Western Cape.
