Siphelele Nketo
THE death of Bishop Emeritus Don Dabula of the Methodist Church has been described as a huge loss in the community of KwaBhaca, Eastern Cape. Bishop Dabula passed away last Friday, August 28, and tributes continue to pour in. He was known as a respected church leader not only in the community of KwaBhaca but in the Eastern Cape as a whole.
Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane described Bishop Dabula as belonging to a generation of faith leaders who understood the church not merely as a place of worship, but as an important institution in the social life and development of communities.
“We mourn the passing of a servant of the people whose ministry extended beyond the pulpit. Bishop Dabula understood that faith must find expression in how we care for one another, how we build our communities and how we preserve the dignity of our people,” said Mabuyane.
He said that the bishop’s life embodied the important and enduring relationship between faith and culture as well as community leadership in the Eastern Cape. Meanwhile, the mayor of the Umzimvubu Local Municipality Zukiswa Ndevu extended her heartfelt condolences to the Dabula family.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, the church community, and all those whose lives were touched by Bishop Dabula’s ministry, wisdom, compassion and service,” she added. Ndevu said that Bishop Dabula will be remembered as one of the respected elders in the community of KwaBhaca.
