Siphelele Nketo
MOURNERS from across the Eastern Cape and abroad attended the Special Provincial Official Funeral Category 2 of Bishop Emeritus Don Doran Dabula in KwaBhaca (Mount Frere) on Thursday, September 10.
Bishop Dabula was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the Methodist Church, the community of the Eastern Cape and his enduring service as a traditional leader, community elder and servant of the people. He died last month on August 28.
Born in the rural village of Mgungundlovu in KwaBhaca, Bishop Dabula enrolled at Blythswood Training College in 1954 for a teachers’ course and later attended St John’s College in Mthatha for his matriculation studies. It was during his time at St John’s College that, at the age of 18, he was admitted as a fully accredited local preacher.
He subsequently became one of the first students of the then Federal Theological Seminary in Dikeni, where his organisational and leadership abilities were quickly recognised. He was elected the inaugural chairman of the Federal Theological Seminary Students Fellowship. He also became a candidate for the Methodist Ministry in 1958 and was accepted by Conference that same year. He served in the Pietermaritzburg Circuit and subsequently worked extensively within the Methodist Youth Ministry where he was responsible for youth work across several districts. He was ordained at the historic 1964 Conference, presided over by the late Reverend Seth Mokitimi, the first Black president of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.
Throughout his ministry, Bishop Dabula served in several Methodist circuits, including Qonce and Komani, and made history as the first Black secretary of a multi-racial Synod in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa. He also served in a joint steering committee tasked with advancing unity and reconciliation within the Methodist family contributing to the historic reunification of Methodism celebrated at Mthatha Stadium in 1988.
Later that year, he was elected the first bishop of the Clarkebury Synod, a position he held with distinction until his retirement in 2003. His ministry extended beyond South Africa through mission work and international Methodist engagements in Europe, the United States and the Far East, including participation in a world conference of Methodist bishops in South Korea. As a traditional leader, Bishop Dabula served as chairperson of the Madzikane-KaZulu Royal House, which encompasses communities in and around Mount Frere, Umzimkhulu, Bulwer and Ixopo.
“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 Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane.
