The ANC is scrambling for a new priest to officiate at its January 8 Statement next week after the Methodist Church of Southern Africa plunged into a scandal over the apparent misogyny of senior leader Dr Vukile Mehana.
A woman reverend had just robed a group of male congregants as part of an event welcoming them to the church’s Young Men’s Guild.
The church leadership has now instituted an investigation into a phone conversation, said to be between Mehana – who is also the ANC’s chaplain general – and congregant Raymond Sibanga, which has gone viral.
In an audio recording of the conversation, a voice said to be that of Mehana can be heard bemoaning the fate of his male colleagues who had been robed by the female reverend.
“What woman is this that is busy on males’ chests, where did she learn that from?”
Someone believed to be Sibanga responds, saying that she could do so because she is a reverend.
Mehana hits back saying: “So we are not reverends because we do not robe female congregants?”
President Bishop Zipho Siwa, in a strongly-worded media statement, confirmed the church had instituted an investigation after a recording of the private conversation between Mehana and Sibanga had been leaked.
Siwa refers to the recording as “unfortunate and distressing”. He goes on to distance the church from the contents of the recording.
“We note with dismay the blatant disrespect and portrayal of women who are characterised in a dismissive, humiliating and degrading caricature. The objectifying of the anatomy of women and its lone to culture and religion is not only unacceptable but also equally disrespectful,” part of the statement reads.
An apology purported to be from Mehana has been circulating on social media, but the Daily Dispatch could not verify its authenticity at time of writing. Mehana referred all questions to the church’s communication department.
A woman, who only identified herself as Bongi from Siwa’s office, said the issue was still under investigation and there was no new information available as yet. The Dispatch was unable to make contact with Sibanga by print deadline on Wednesday.
In the recording, Mehana and Sibanga apparently insinuate that all male congregants who were robed by the female reverend should perhaps be isolated.
“Some of these gentlemen are now asking if we should allow these guys to be among us.
“All the men that have been robed by a woman outside,” Sibanga says. Mehana can be heard saying that his beliefs as an African theologist are against female reverends.
ANC presidency head Zizi Kodwa said: “The ANC has noted with disappointment the utterances attributed to Rev Vukile Mehana.”
He said the party had informed Siwa that Mehana would no longer officiate at the ANC January 8 Statement...