THE shamed pastor’s actions are not the teachings of the church, says Apostolic Faith International Church as they distanced themselves from his actions yesterday.
Describing the allegations against him as a shocking betrayal of the church’s teachings and the trust placed in him by both the congregation and the wider community.
This is after Apostolic Faith International Church Pastor Nkosingiphile Zwane was charged with the murder of four women and two of contravening the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act, leaving the nation shocked because of his alleged actions.
Speaking on behalf of the church, Reverend Steven Dlamini said members were devastated by the developments, explaining that Zwane had been regarded as one of the church’s most trusted leaders and a respected figure whose conduct had never raised suspicion.
“The church is deeply shocked by what has happened. We never imagined that someone who presented himself as a God-fearing leader and servant of the church could be linked to such acts,” said Dlamini.
He acknowledged the pain experienced by the victims and their families, saying the church shared in the nation’s grief following the revelations. He extended the church’s heartfelt apologies to the country’s authorities and the nation for the damage and distress the incident had caused.
“We regret the pain and suffering that has resulted from these events,” he said.
He stressed that the alleged actions attributed to Zwane did not reflect the values, principles or teachings of the Apostolic Faith International Church, adding that the church felt compelled to publicly distance itself from his conduct.
“We want the public to know that these actions are not part of our ministry’s doctrine. We condemn them in the strongest possible terms and reject any behaviour that brings harm to innocent people,” he said.
RELATED | ‘I had no idea’
He added that church leaders intended to reach out to the affected families to convey their condolences and offer spiritual support during what he described as an extremely painful period.
According to Dlamini, the church also intends to strengthen its internal processes for appointing church leaders in an effort to prevent similar incidents in future. He said greater emphasis would be placed on evaluating individuals before they are entrusted with positions of leadership and responsibility.
“This has taught us painful lessons. Going forward, we will review and strengthen the way we assess pastors and church leaders before they are accepted into ministry. We want to do everything possible to protect our members and uphold the integrity of the church,” he said.
Dlamini said the congregation remained traumatised by the developments, noting that many members were still struggling to come to terms with the allegations involving a man they had trusted for years.
He appealed to the public to distinguish between the actions of one individual and the mission of the church, insisting that the institution remained committed to promoting faith, moral values and service to the community despite the painful chapter it is now facing.
