MFUNDISI'S life is hanging by the thread.
He said for the past 26 years, he has been surfing through hatred of some church members who don't want him as a leader.
He said his sin was that he was ordained at the young age of 24 to lead the Reformed Apostolic Church while the madalas of the church were not happy about it.
He said to add fuel to the fire, because he had divorced twice, these church members wanted him to leave and didn't want to be led by what they called a sinner.
"I live with an axe hanging over my head," he said.
Pastor Justice Ratsela (50) said the members of his church in KwaThema went to court to apply for his eviction from the Reformed Apostolic Church on Thursday, 26 October.
The Springs Magistrates Court dismissed their application with costs.
Pastor Ratsela said after the defeat, they allegedly went to demand the church keys from the caretaker.
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"But the caretaker refused to give them away without my permission, and they left," he said.
Moruti thought it was the end of the drama.
At 3am on Friday, 27 October, the pastor said he received a call from a caretaker and other congregants that the church was on fire.
"When I got there, the building was burnt out. Nearby residents, who were later joined by firefighters, tried to extinguish the fire. However, it was intense, and the church building burnt to the ground," he said.
At this stage, it's not clear who burnt the church.
Sergeant Nkululeko Magudulela of KwaThema police said an inquest docket was being investigated.
"Police are still investigating the inquest," he said.
Pastor Ratsela vowed that the burning of the church would not stop him.
"We are going to erect a tent next to the burnt church and continue with the service. My pastorship is not defined by a building," he said.
"I have sacrificed my life for this church. I used my money to improve the building and even built toilets. I'm not getting a salary from the church. I have been working all my life for different companies and took money from my salary to improve the church," he said.
The pastor, who grew up in the church, said: "I would understand if money was involved, but it's just leadership without money and no salary for a pastor."
"They insisted I resigned as they were not going to allow a divorcee to lead them," he said.
His father, Molefi Ratsela, said all he wanted was for justice to take its course.
"They want my son dead. There have been several attempts on his life," he said.
Daily Sun spoke to the members of the other faction, but they declined to comment.
