It is more than five years since infighting erupted among Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) members but to this day no amicable solution has been reached to resolve the deepening disputes.
The dispute took centre stage on Sunday when two warring factions exchanged blows inside the church to the extent that some of the members had to be rushed to the hospital after sustaining injuries.
The chairperson of Mochudi West church, a wing of the DRC that houses Bokaa Branch, claims not to be aware of the physical fights between the two warring factions even though it was reported that police had to be called in to dissolve the commotion in the Bokaa Dutch Reformed Church.
The fight allegedly broke out when two senior committee members attempted to address the two factions about church issues.
Although it is not yet clear what else could have really sparked the fight, two members from the same faction had to be rushed to hospital where they were admitted.
Speaking to The Telegraph on Monday, the Officer Commanding Kgatleng, Senior Superintendent Seabo Maboka, said two church members, a man and a woman, were admitted at Deborah Retief Memorial Hospital in Mochudi after sustaining injuries from a fight that took place in their church.
He said investigations had just commenced to establish the reasons behind the infighting among the church members.
Maboka said that police had not yet arrested any one in connection with the incident.
“We are aware of the infighting between members though they have not reported the matter to us,” said Deputy Headman of Bokaa Village, Lenard Mosinyi. He said instead of reporting the matter to them in Bokaa, they decided to seek intervention from the main kgotla in Mochudi, a move which Mosinyi found inappropriate.
“They could have first brought their disputes to us, thereafter if they felt that they are not satisfied with our decision then they could take the matter elsewhere,” he said. “How could they doubt us before they even tested us?”
Mosinyi revealed that some time last year, their court presided over a case in which a young man was accused of insulting an elder in the very same church.
The chairperson of the church in Mochudi West, Aubrey Mooketsane, said, “I cannot share anything with you as of now because I have to investigate the allegations before addressing the public on what exactly transpired on Sunday.” He added that it will take him about two weeks to complete his investigations.
Mooketsane said he was unaware of the fighting although he was in Bokaa Church to address the congregation.
He strongly denied any factionalism within his church.
“Everything is well and in-order in the church,” he said.
Victor Bodika, a church elder, said there were fights in the church on Sunday but he did not want to be drawn into the matter.
“There are serious problems in the church and the church leadership is fully aware of the issues,” he said.
Bodika said he is hopeful that one day the disputes will be resolved.
It can be recalled that Kgosiemang Mmoniemang, a female priest, who for some time featured in the Dutch Reformed Church factions and disputes ended up leaving to form her own church.
The Bokaa division currently holds two Sunday services, one at 8am and the other at 10am. The two church services do not differ in any way.
The current prevailing state of affairs has resulted in some of the church members apparently not attending church services. The church’s infighting is now of concern to the community at large.
