Political parties in KwaZulu-Natal are sending words of condolences to the family of the late leader of Nazareth Baptist Church Vela Shembe.
Shembe, who was known as Imisebe Yelanga or “the sun’s rays”, passed on after a short illness at the crack of dawn on Thursday.
Democratic Alliance leader in KwaZulu-Natal Zwakele Mncwango says Shembe was a trailblazer who brought focus and direction in the church which boasts more than five million followers worldwide.
Mncwango says Shembe’s death has left a void.
“We would like to pass our condolences to the family of KwaShembe and the church as a whole and all the followers – we are saying what happened is a shock to all of us they must allow the leader to rest in peace. It’s unfortunate that a man was known to have a strategy on how we can take the church forward has to leave in a short space of time,” says Mncwango.
Meanwhile IFP Provincial Secretary, Velenkosini Hlabisa says Shembe was the backbone of the church.
“We want to express our condolences to the Shembe family as well as members of the Nazareth Baptist church because a spiritual leader Vela Msebeyelanga Shembe was one of the pillars of the Nazareth Baptist Church. As he had his following we wish the family during this period to have peaceful mourning, may this event also bring unity to the shembe family as well as members of the Nazareth Baptist Church. We wish him a peaceful eternal rest,” says Hlabisa.
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