The JL Zwane Memorial Church, Guguletu, Cape Town
A conflict of many years within the Bantu Presbyterian Church
in Cape Town was resolved in one year (1952) by a decision
of Assembly to “appoint a Commission to investigate
the trouble in the Tiyo Soga Congregation, with powers to
settle the matter in the best interests of God’s work.”
(Proceedings of the General Assembly of the Bantu Presbyterian
Church 1951:2528:28). The far-reaching decisions of the
Commission recorded in the proceedings of the General Assembly
of the Bantu Presbyterian Church of South Africa 1951 (pages
31, 32 & 33) paint a very disturbing picture of what happened.
The Rev. Jeremiah Lafangaye Zwane of Pietermaritzburg congregation
was requested by this Commission to take charge of the Tiyo
Soga congregation. He arrived in Cape Town in February
of 1952 and left the congregation at the end of that year
united and ready to call a minister. The Rev. JL Zwane
is still remembered for his commitment to reconciliation,
peace and love among Christians.
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Guguletu
was a congregation under Tiyo Soga Church in Langa. In
1976 a church was build. People in the community confess
that they never knew that it was a church. They thought
it was a community hall because it was the centre for the
struggle against apartheid. Members of different political
parties met in the Church building at the corner of NY2 and
NY7 in Guguletu. Indeed it was the biggest hall in a
community lacking such infrastructure. The fight
for freedom was, according to members of this congregation,
central to the very nature of God. This congregation was given
a congregational status in 1988. This meant they could
be a congregation separate from Tiyo Soga congregation and
call a minister of their choice to serve them.
In
the same year the Guguletu Presbyterian Church congregation
extended a call to the Rev. Dr. Spiwo Xapile, at the time furthering his
studies in Aberdeen, Scotland. his wife Zethu and their
two children Hlalumi (Lumi) and Nonkuthalo (Nonki) moved to
this congregation in 1989. In 1992 the congregation was
renamed JL Zwane Memorial Church in memory of a man reputed
to be a great peacemaker.
- Dr Rev Spiwo Xapile -