LIMPOPO: UAAC splinter group to contest
The Thohoyandou High Court last week declared that the Mureri Royal Counci, the UAAC New Cabinet and the New National Executive Committee, among other structures, were invalid.
LIMPOPO – The splinter group of the United African Apostolic Church (UAAC), under the guidance of Archbishop David Mureri, have indicated that they will contest the ruling of Judge Legodi Phathudi.Phathudi granted an interdict against the group last week in the Thohoyandou High Court, declaring that the structures set up, such as the Mureri Royal Council, the UAAC New Cabinet and the New National Executive Committee, were invalid.
The group, under the leadership of Mureri, are also interdicted from interfering with the activities of the UAAC. The church was divided into two factions, one led by Mureri and the other by Archbishop Itani Mureri. The UAAC was founded by the late Paulos Matsea Miriri in 1912 and has more than 1,5 million members.
https://www.citizen.co.za/review-online/433777/feud-turns-uaac-church-into-war-zone/
The latest conflict within the UAAC has been brewing for well over a year. The cracks started appearing in December 2018, shortly after the death of Archbishop Elias Miriri, the former leader of the church.After Miriri’s death, a power struggle erupted, with the two main contenders being David and Itani. David is the son of Paul (Paulos) Miriri, who died in 1975, whereas Itani is the son of Elias Miriri.
The leadership dispute has found its way to the courts on more than one occasion. In September last year, Judge Francis Kgomo ruled that the matter was not urgent and dismissed an application brought by the group led by Itani.In January, Kgomo granted a provisional settlement agreement between the groups. The settlement agreement allows for both groups to use the church headquarters at Ha-Mavhunga, but at different times. Both groups have to provide their own security guards.
The Spokesperson of the David Mureri camp, Pastor Steven Matshavha, said last Wednesday they still believe that the UAAC belonged to the Mureri family. ”
They (the family members) are the ones who gave direction after the late Archbishop Elias Miriri passed on and (guided) the appointment of a new leader,” he said. He said that they did not agree with the findings of the court. “Our legal team is studying the outcome, and will advise the family and the church.”Matshavha further accused the group that had successfully obtained the interdict of violating the rights of the Mureri family.
“When you see our church underdeveloped, it is because of this group who are fighting for the continuous looting of the church. We see this as an attempt to hijack the church from the owners,” he said.Matshavha said that, according to their understanding, no one was prohibited from entering the church compound for church activities. “On weekends, only members from around Ha-Mavhunga attend,” he said, adding that the church members from other areas went to Ha Mavhunga once a year, in September.”The church continues with its activities under Archbishop David Mureri. In due time, we will advise on whether we are appealing or not,” said Matshavha.
The Spokesperson for Itani Mureri’s group, Adv Reuben Maiwashe, said that the UAAC was happy that unity had returned, following a lengthy struggle between the two camps. “We will now live as we used to during our late father Dr Elias Miriri’s time,” he said. Maiwashe said they were glad the judge had found in their favour. Judge Phathudi had ruled that the constitution submitted by the David Mureri group was not a genuine document. We will now move away from the interim settlement order dated 15 January, which was made an order of the court by Judge Kgomo.
The purpose of the interim order was to govern the parties until the main application was finalised,” he said.Maiwashe said the court order granted meant that order would return. The gates were open at the head-quarters and security guards placed there by the opposing group were no longer allowed.
