By Kaya 959 Reporter
The Shembe Church leadership battle took a different turn on Tuesday the 28th of September, as thousands of members of the Nazareth Baptist Church embarked on a peaceful march in the Durban CBD.
About 6000 members of the Nazareth Baptist Church better known as Shembe had a peaceful march across the Durban CBD today. pic.twitter.com/vU4S1mcH2d
— Mzilikazi wa Afrika (@IamMzilikazi) September 28, 2021
The members belonged to the Ebuhleni faction which is led by Mduduzi ‘Unyazi Lwezulu’ Shembe, who they believe is the rightful leader of the Shembe Church.
The eBuhleni faction is lead by Mduduzi “Unyazi Lwezulu” Shembe who recently lost a decade-long court battle over the heir to the church’s throne against his late uncle, Vela Shembe.
The march was to show support for Mduduzi. The church has been divided into two camps after a succession battle between Mdu and his late uncle Vela Shembe.
CLARIFICATION
Today’s March was a demonstration of the support Mduduzi Shembe enjoys amongst the church followers despite the Constitutional Court pronouncement.
The march has nothing to do with politics of the day ! pic.twitter.com/0rPzQazSqn
— TK_Nala (@NalaThokozane) September 28, 2021
In 2016, Vela of the Thembezinhle faction, was declared by the Durban High Court as the legitimate successor to the late church’s spiritual leader, Vimbeni Shembe.
Makhanya said there is no way that Mduduzi ‘Unyazi Lwezulu’ will be evicted from the Ebuhleni homestead (which is traditionally occupied by the leader of the church).
“Those are just frivolous allegations, that will never happen in our existence,” he said.@WitnessKZN pic.twitter.com/QJGYlsn7nV
— Thabiso Goba (@ThabisoGoba2) September 28, 2021
The majority of the church members are in favour of Inkosi Mduduzi Shembe, son of a previous leader but the Constitutional Court ruled in favour of his late uncle, Vela Shembe.
Now the battle is between Inkosi Mduduzi Shembe and his other uncle, Phinda Shembe.
Members of the Nazareth Baptist Church, commonly known as Shembe, have vowed to defend their leader from attempts to evict him from eBuhleni homestead in Inanda, Durban.



