For the second week, no church service was held yesterday at Apostolic Faith Church International Church, where murder-accused Pastor Nkosingiphile Allen Zwane ministered, as police investigations into the alleged killings of four women continue.
The church’s senior Pastor Khonza Ntshakala said the congregation had resolved to keep all services suspended until law enforcement authorities officially declared the premises no longer part of an active crime scene.
Speaking after a meeting with church elders yesterday, Ntshakala said the leadership believed it was prudent to wait for clearance from the police before resuming worship.
“We deemed it fit to suspend church services until we receive confirmation from the police that we can proceed with church services,” he said.
In the meantime, Ntshakala said congregants have been encouraged to worship at other branches of the church or attend any Bible-based church until normal services can safely resume.
Ntshakala revealed that once the police grant permission to reopen the church, the leadership intends to hold a special mass prayer service aimed at promoting healing and restoring confidence among congregants.
He said the event would bring together various stakeholders, including the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS), civil society organisations such as Swatini Action Group Against Abuse (SWAGAA) and other relevant institutions to educate church members on gender-based violence (GBV), offer psychosocial support and help the congregation come to terms with the tragedy.
The church remains at the centre of one of the country’s most disturbing criminal investigations following the arrest of Zwane, a pastor affiliated with the church and a former community police member.
Zwane is facing allegations of the rape and murder of four women namely; Bongiwe Phetsile Mkhonta, Samkelisiwe Shabangu, Noncedo Mohale and Nolwazi Nonhlanhla Langa, whose bodies were reportedly recovered from a water canal near the church. Last week, church services were suspended at Apostolic Faith Church International Church out of respect for the mourning families following the horrific situation.
Investigators reportedly intensified their probe following the disappearance of the fourth victim, Bongiwe Phetsile Mkhonta. Police are said to have established that Zwane was the last known person to have communicated with her, a development that allegedly led to his arrest.
According to a statement attributed to Zwane and filed before the Manzini Magistrate’s Court, the first alleged attack occurred after he met a woman while travelling in a kombi to Luyengo. He allegedly claimed that he initiated a romantic relationship with her before inviting her to visit him the following day. The statement alleges that when the woman arrived, Zwane lured her to his church, where he raped and later strangled her with a rope.
He allegedly stated that after sexually assaulting the woman, ‘something came over’ him, prompting him to kill her. According to the statement, Zwane further alleged that the remaining three women were killed in a similar manner. The statement also alleges that he used Facebook and in some cases, false promises of employment to lure victims to the church, where the alleged attacks took place.
He further allegedly admitted to disposing of the victims’ personal belongings, including handbags and shoes, by throwing them into a nearby water canal. According to the statement, the victims’ bodies were initially concealed inside the church under plastic sheeting before being moved under the cover of darkness and also dumped in the very same water canal. Despite the alleged confessions, Zwane is said to have claimed that he never intended to kill the women, alleging instead that a ‘demon’ would unexpectedly take control of him and compel him to commit the crimes.
The allegations remain before the courts and Zwane is expected to appear in court on Wednesday. Meanwhile, church leaders should be equipped with knowledge and skills to address gender-based violence (GBV) if they are to effectively respond to the growing social crisis affecting communities across the country. These were the sentiments shared by Apostle Mbongeni Khoza of The Love of God Assembly during the church’s three-day Annual Local Church Conference, held at Ngwane Park under the theme Strength of the Local Church. The conference featured Apostle Ben Ndobe of Dominion Life Cathedral Church in South Africa as the guest speaker and brought together church leaders for teachings on leadership, ministry and the role of the church in society.
Addressing journalists, Khoza acknowledged that the recent allegations against murder-accused pastor Nkosingiphile Allen Zwane had dealt a significant blow to the image of the church.
