• Feuding factions at the International Pentecost Holiness Church have agreed to renounce violence following mediation by the CRL Rights Commission. 
• Five people died and 41 were arrested after a hostage drama and shooting at the church on 11 July. 
• The assailants were allegedly part of a splinter group who have been against the current church leadership since the death of the church's leader, Reverend Glayton Modise, in 2016.

Feuding factions at the International Pentecost Holiness Church (IPHC) in Zuurbekom, Gauteng, have agreed to renounce violence following mediation by the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission). 

On 11 July, five people died in the attack, west of Johannesburg, which left a trail of blood and the smouldering shells of two burnt-out cars outside the church premises.

Four were shot and burnt inside the cars while the fifth, a security guard on duty, was shot dead inside his patrol vehicle.

Shortly after the incident, IPHC executive committee chairperson Abbey Wessie told News24 the assailants were part of a splinter group who have been against the current leadership since the death of the church's leader, Reverend Glayton Modise, in 2016.

Wessie claimed some of the attackers belonging to the splinter group wanted to take over the church.

Splinter group wants to 'take over' church

"They wanted to capture our headquarters and take control of the church as they had earlier claimed. This is the same group of people who took us to court recently over our leadership and the matter is currently before court.

"We are awaiting the hearing date. They are impatient and can't wait for the court processes to unfold. Our lives are at risk. We want the law to take its course. The only cure to this problem is for the court to speed up processes and finalise this leadership battle," said Wessie. 

On 22 July, the Westonaria Magistrate's Court bail application of 41 people accused of killing the five people was postponed in their absence. This comes after an employee at the court tested positive for Covid-19.

Among the 41 accused are a lawyer, a police officer and a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier, all congregants of the church. The accused face charges of murder, attempted murder and malicious damage to property. The case was postponed until Monday.

Following the incident, the CRL Rights Commission endeavoured to find out "the genesis of the conflict and the historical conflicts that have plagued the church since the passing of Modise and the succession battle that has subsequently ensued".

In a statement on Sunday, the commission said although the succession matter was before the courts at present, it had made a decision to bring the various parties together to try to ventilate their views on this issue.

"Invitations were issued to various leaders of the different groups allegedly involved in the conflict in an attempt to mediate a settlement between the different parties embroiled in this conflict," commission spokesperson Mpiyakhe Mkholo said. 

The fact-finding and mediation sessions were held from 22 to 24 July. One out of the four invited groups chose not to attend as they did not participate in the incident and submitted that "the church's succession trial is still with the courts pending the trial date and that they did not want to comment on issues that are sub judice."

Cause of conflict

According to Mkholo, each group was given an opportunity to put its case forward on what it perceived to be the cause of the conflict in the church.

"The commission has established that the problems are premised on the contested succession battle taking place, power, the assets and finances of the church.

"It was impressed on the parties, at the beginning of the deliberations that they need to find a workable solution to stop the conflict, as the church is supposed to be a sacred and safe environment for the congregants to practice their right of religious freedom."

"It became clear to the CRL Rights Commission that the lack of a clear succession plan in the church is one of the main contributing factors of the conflict. 

"The mediation embarked upon was a fruitful exercise in that it did not only try to resolve the matter at hand but is also a step to future engagements and other cases," Mkholo said. 

All leaders agreed to meet with the commission on a future date.