An East London reverend accused of not paying maintenance for a child he fathered out of wedlock joins a list of controversial church leaders who are not practising what they preach.
The Reverend Mpumelelo Qwabaza, a former leader of the Eastern Cape Council of Churches and leader of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of South Africa (EPCSA), has been accused of not paying child maintenance by a Cape Town woman.
She cannot be named to protect the identity of the child.
The mother said the child was conceived while Qwabaza was already married to his current wife, although she claims she did not know this at the time.
“He has been avoiding my calls. At times he will go for months without paying. I have had enough of this now. I want him to take responsibility as he lied to me by saying he was not married,” she said.
The woman said Qwabaza had failed to buy their child clothes or pay school fees.
Qwabaza confirmed that he was the father of the child but said it was “something that happened way before I became a church leader”.
But the mother said their child was now eight years old, meaning that at the time of the girl’s birth, Qwabaza was already chief executive of the Eastern Cape Council of Churches.
Contacted for comment he said: “This is misrepresenting me. This is trying to dent my name unnecessarily. The society is not interested in my past.”
He claimed he regularly payed child maintenance.
Qwabaza last year intervened in the marriage of a church leader from Mdantsane who left his wife for another woman.
Reverend Mihlali Njoli was romantically involved with EPCSA member Asandiswa Amayirha Jika. Their relationship was displayed on social networks and many people complimented the two as Jika claimed she was set to marry Njoli.
“The church had to intervene to save this marriage and we are happy that he’s back with his wife,” Qwabaza said of Njoli this week.
Jika confirmed her romantic involvement with Njoli. “I can’t deny that we were in love but we are no longer together,” she said. But Njoli threatened to “deal” with the Saturday Dispatch if the story was published.
“I will deal with you if you write that story. I don’t know this woman you talking about,” he said.
Jesus Christ Family (JCF) church leader Andile Myemane is also no stranger to controversy.
Myemane made headlines after he left his wife, Pumza, to live with her sister-in-law, Nombuzo Sisilana.
Sisilana had been married to Pangalele Sisilana, Pumza’s brother. After Pangalele died it emerged that Myemane was romantically involved with Sisilana.
Myemane’s actions left their church divided.
The current president of the South African Council of Churches in the Eastern Cape, Bishop Andile Mbete, said it should be acknowledged that ministers of religion were also human and subject to temptation.
“Having said that, the dignity and moral expectations from society is that the ministers should practice what they preach.
“We have seen, especially in the few past years, the lowering of moral standards of those who claim to be people of God,” said Mbete.
He said many ministers and pastors had no accountability structures in their churches and were “kings to themselves”.
“The continuation of these reports are not only bad for the ministers but denting the power of the gospel we spread.” —bonganif@dispatch.co.za
It’s hot water, not holy water for pastor
The Reverend Mpumelelo Qwabaza, a former leader of the Eastern Cape Council of Churches and leader of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of South Africa (EPCSA), has been accused of not paying child maintenance by a Cape Town woman.
She cannot be named to protect the identity of the child.
The mother said the child was conceived while Qwabaza was already married to his current wife, although she claims she did not know this at the time.
“He has been avoiding my calls. At times he will go for months without paying. I have had enough of this now. I want him to take responsibility as he lied to me by saying he was not married,” she said.
The woman said Qwabaza had failed to buy their child clothes or pay school fees.
Qwabaza confirmed that he was the father of the child but said it was “something that happened way before I became a church leader”.
But the mother said their child was now eight years old, meaning that at the time of the girl’s birth, Qwabaza was already chief executive of the Eastern Cape Council of Churches.
Contacted for comment he said: “This is misrepresenting me. This is trying to dent my name unnecessarily. The society is not interested in my past.”
He claimed he regularly payed child maintenance.
Qwabaza last year intervened in the marriage of a church leader from Mdantsane who left his wife for another woman.
Reverend Mihlali Njoli was romantically involved with EPCSA member Asandiswa Amayirha Jika. Their relationship was displayed on social networks and many people complimented the two as Jika claimed she was set to marry Njoli.
“The church had to intervene to save this marriage and we are happy that he’s back with his wife,” Qwabaza said of Njoli this week.
Jika confirmed her romantic involvement with Njoli. “I can’t deny that we were in love but we are no longer together,” she said. But Njoli threatened to “deal” with the Saturday Dispatch if the story was published.
“I will deal with you if you write that story. I don’t know this woman you talking about,” he said.
Jesus Christ Family (JCF) church leader Andile Myemane is also no stranger to controversy.
Myemane made headlines after he left his wife, Pumza, to live with her sister-in-law, Nombuzo Sisilana.
Sisilana had been married to Pangalele Sisilana, Pumza’s brother. After Pangalele died it emerged that Myemane was romantically involved with Sisilana.
Myemane’s actions left their church divided.
The current president of the South African Council of Churches in the Eastern Cape, Bishop Andile Mbete, said it should be acknowledged that ministers of religion were also human and subject to temptation.
“Having said that, the dignity and moral expectations from society is that the ministers should practice what they preach.
“We have seen, especially in the few past years, the lowering of moral standards of those who claim to be people of God,” said Mbete.
He said many ministers and pastors had no accountability structures in their churches and were “kings to themselves”.
“The continuation of these reports are not only bad for the ministers but denting the power of the gospel we spread.” —bonganif@dispatch.co.za
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