An unknown suspect shot and killed the pastor at Christ Lifestyle Family Church in Sedibeng Section on Friday.
Pastor Tumelo Mpholwane, or Pastor T as he was affectionately known to his congregants, leaves behind his wife and two children. The oldest child is four years old and the youngest is three weeks old.
Makie Khoza-Mpholwane, the mother of the deceased pastor, said her daughter-in-law is distressed and has not even been able to eat since the shooting.
“She has been crying ever since. When I ask her to eat she says she is waiting for her husband to come home. She is in shock and is not taking her loss well. The reality of her husband’s death hasn’t sunk in,” said Khoza-Mpholwane.
Khoza-Mpholwane said that on the night of the shooting they were about to have an all-night prayer session at the church. She and her son arrived around 9pm.
“We parked next to a high light mast. My son got out of his car to fetch Bibles from the boot. I also got out and went to him. We noticed a white vehicle driving slowly towards the church. A man was walking at the same pace next to the vehicle.
“When the man on foot got to us, he first tried to pass in front of us but changed direction and passed behind us. That was when he pulled something out. It was dark.
“We shouted and started to pray. In that moment gunshots went off. As my son fell he continued praying. The assailant did not run. He climbed into the vehicle and it drove off. I ran into the church, calling for help.”
She said congregants tried to call an ambulance but it was taking a while to arrive. The victim was then driven to Tembisa Hospital in his own car.
Khoza-Mpholwane continued: “I am heartbroken. I implored the congregants to let me break the news to Pastor Mpholwane’s wife instead of phoning her. On our way to his house we noticed that my other son had gone to fetch my daughter in-law and we made a U-turn to follow their car.
“As we approached their car we noticed two cars tailing them, one of which was the same white vehicle which drove off with the shooter.”
She said at that moment she was terrified that those people wanted to kill everyone in the pastor’s family.
She said her daughter-in-law managed to get to the church safely. They spotted the white vehicle parked some distance away. The suspects eventually drove off.
“Police accompanied us to the hospital. We saw my son and he convinced us that he was strong. The following day, while we were opening a case at the police station, we got a call from the hospital, breaking the news that my son had died,” said the Khoza-Mpholwane.
Pastor T’s younger brother said the pastor’s last words to him were: “Tell the congregants not to worry – all is well.”
The family said they did not know the motive behind the shooting as they were not aware of any quarrels or enemies the pastor might have had.
“Pastor T was friendly and funny and he never got into fights. The people who did this have touched an anointed man of God and the Almighty won’t let them get away with the crime.”
Const Patricia Mgijima said a case of murder has been opened at the police station.
Pastor T’s memorial service was scheduled for February 15 at Apostolic Faith Mission at 1 Maokeng Street. The funeral will be on Saturday at Christ Lifestyle Family Church at Moriting Section, corner Freedom and 16 June Street.
