Nazareth Baptist Church leader Vela Shembe dies

The leader of the Nazareth Baptist Church, Vela Shembe, has died.

Shembe died in the early hours of Friday morning after a long battle with cancer.

He recently won a five year High Court battle for the leadership of the church in the Durban High Court.

He was the leader of the Thembezinhle faction of the congregation.

The battle for the supremacy of the multi-million member church with his cousin Mduduzi Shembe who led the Ebuhleni faction started after the death of leader Vimbeni Shembe in March 2011.