Would-be leaders of the yet-to-be formed Enoch Mgijima Municipality in the Chris Hani district would have to jealously protect the legacy of Mgijima, “or face the wrath of the great prophet”.
This was said during the Enoch Mgijima Memorial Lecture in Queenstown, hosted by the Chris Hani district municipality on Thursday.
Tsolwana, Nkwanca and Lukhanji municipalities are to merge to become the Enoch Mgijima municipality, which will have its headquarters in Queenstown.
Prophet Mgijima, who was born in 1868 and only had a Standard 3 (Grade 5) education, was the leader of the Israelites sect in the early 1900s, who fought against forced removals in Bulhoek, in Ntabelanga, near Whittlesea.
In May 1921, 200 members of the sect were massacred at Bulhoek and 95 were injured in a lengthy confrontation between the South African government and the Israelites.
In 1920, Mgijima called his followers to congregate at their “holy city, Ntabelanga, and await the approaching millennium”.
He was subsequently arrested and imprisoned for two years for leadership of the resistance. He returned to Ntabelanga in 1923 and by 1926 he had built a large church in Queenstown.
He died in 1928 at the age of 60.
Delivering the lecture, Fort Hare University council member Vuyani Booi warned that bringing the legacy of Mgijima into disrepute could “unleash the wrath of the great prophet Mgijima”.
“He is a icon like Mandela, if not more than him.
“The merging municipalities must be united behind the legacy left by the great prophet and his followers,” said Booi.
ANC regional chairwoman Kholiswa Vimbayo said although the merging municipalities were characterised by instability and disorder, all had embraced the new name.
Chris Hani district mayor Mxolisi Koyo said the name was seen by both the ruling party and the opposition as neutral and unifying.
Mgijima grandson Methodist Reverend Monganeli Mgijima said the family was humbled by the gesture.
Grandson Israelite Reverend Magora Mgijima, said: “The church is happy that our leader and my grandfather has been seen as a unifying factor.
“We hope the municipality will treat the name as such.”
Council must protect Mgijima legacy
This was said during the Enoch Mgijima Memorial Lecture in Queenstown, hosted by the Chris Hani district municipality on Thursday.
Tsolwana, Nkwanca and Lukhanji municipalities are to merge to become the Enoch Mgijima municipality, which will have its headquarters in Queenstown.
Prophet Mgijima, who was born in 1868 and only had a Standard 3 (Grade 5) education, was the leader of the Israelites sect in the early 1900s, who fought against forced removals in Bulhoek, in Ntabelanga, near Whittlesea.
In May 1921, 200 members of the sect were massacred at Bulhoek and 95 were injured in a lengthy confrontation between the South African government and the Israelites.
In 1920, Mgijima called his followers to congregate at their “holy city, Ntabelanga, and await the approaching millennium”.
He was subsequently arrested and imprisoned for two years for leadership of the resistance. He returned to Ntabelanga in 1923 and by 1926 he had built a large church in Queenstown.
He died in 1928 at the age of 60.
Delivering the lecture, Fort Hare University council member Vuyani Booi warned that bringing the legacy of Mgijima into disrepute could “unleash the wrath of the great prophet Mgijima”.
“He is a icon like Mandela, if not more than him.
“The merging municipalities must be united behind the legacy left by the great prophet and his followers,” said Booi.
ANC regional chairwoman Kholiswa Vimbayo said although the merging municipalities were characterised by instability and disorder, all had embraced the new name.
Chris Hani district mayor Mxolisi Koyo said the name was seen by both the ruling party and the opposition as neutral and unifying.
Mgijima grandson Methodist Reverend Monganeli Mgijima said the family was humbled by the gesture.
Grandson Israelite Reverend Magora Mgijima, said: “The church is happy that our leader and my grandfather has been seen as a unifying factor.
“We hope the municipality will treat the name as such.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos