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Parishioners in South Africa find priest murdered in his home

By  Bronwen Dachs, Catholic News Service
  • November 24, 2011

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - A 35-year-old priest was brutally murdered in South Africa's Eshowe Diocese.

The body of Father Senzo Mbokazi, parish priest of St. Pius Church in the village of Melmoth, was found Nov. 20 by parishioners waiting for him to celebrate Mass.

Father Mbokazi had been strangled and was found with his hands tied behind his back and with stab wounds on his face and neck, Bishop Xolelo Kumalo of Eshowe said in a Nov. 23 telephone interview.

Father Mbokazi had been a priest in the diocese for six years.

"It was terrible for the parishioners, who had been waiting for him to come and say Mass," Bishop Kumalo told Catholic News Service. He said parishioners could see the priest's car outside his home, so they guessed he was inside.

The house had been ransacked and money was missing, but nothing else of value was stolen, such as the television or computer, Bishop Kumalo said.

Because the house did not appear to have been broken into, it is likely that Father Mbokazi knew his attackers, the bishop said.

The motive for the murder is unknown, but police are "doing a thorough investigation," Bishop Kumalo said.

Noting that several priests have been murdered across South Africa in the past few years, Bishop Kumalo said the fact that priests are known not to carry guns makes them vulnerable.

Also, "the nature of the job -- to serve people, particularly the poor -- makes us vulnerable. We never know who the Judas is going to be," he said.

While South Africans need to look at "why we are such a violent society," the church does not need to take extra precautions to keep priests safe, Bishop Kumalo said.

"The one we follow was as vulnerable as we are," he said.

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