ZCC Mogoditshane church dispute turns violent
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday March 18, 2026 12:45
A church member allegedly rammed the church gate with his vehicle in an attempt to force entry, sending congregants fleeing and prompting police intervention.
March 15 marked a far from ordinary day for members of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church (ZCC) in Mogoditshane. Instead of a peaceful service, tensions within the congregation escalated, nearly turning the church premises into a scene of physical confrontation.
The incident comes despite a ruling by the High Court of Botswana in December last year, which ordered two rival factions within the church to reconcile and restore peace following a prolonged dispute over the control and leadership of the congregation.
However, Sunday's events suggested that the divisions remain unresolved.
According to insiders at the church, the situation unfolded whilst congregants were gathering for their regular service. As members followed the usual procedures for entering the church premises, one member from a rival faction allegedly attempted to bypass the established process.
When he was stopped at the gate, the situation quickly escalated. Witnesses say the man drove his vehicle into the church gate in an apparent attempt to force his way inside the premises. The shocking act startled congregants, many of whom feared the situation could turn violent.
“The move left members shocked, and some ran for their lives,” said one church insider who requested anonymity. “The member was clearly angry and even removed his church garments. He made it clear that he was prepared to fight anyone who tried to block his way.”
The confrontation immediately disrupted the service, forcing church activities to come to a temporary halt.
Meanwhile, church elders attempted to calm the situation as tensions rose amongst congregants. Eventually, they decided to seek help from law enforcement authorities to restore order at the premises.
According to insiders, some congregants urged members of both factions to handle their disagreements maturely and avoid disrupting the sanctity of the church.
“Other members pleaded with both sides to resolve their issues peacefully and not disturb the church service,” the source added.
The incident was confirmed by the church’s pastor, Kelebogile Baituledi, who spoke in an interview shortly after the confrontation.
“We are waiting for the police because one of our members has hit the church gate whilst forcing himself inside,” he said.
Baituledi acknowledged that differences exist within the church but emphasised that the matter should be resolved peacefully, especially in light of the court ruling. “Yes, we do have differences. However, the High Court instructed us to reconcile. We were still waiting for leaders from the other team to come forward so that discussions could take place,” he explained.
He further stressed that church procedures must be respected by all members when accessing the church premises.
“Church procedure has to be followed when one wants to enter the church buildings,” he added.
Meanwhile, another church elder from the rival faction, Lesego Rajus, who serves as the treasurer for the branch, declined to comment extensively on the incident.
“I cannot comment on this matter,” Rajus said. “As you can see, we are currently at the police station, and we do not know how this matter will end. We also have our own structures where such matters are reported.”
Police later confirmed that they were aware of the situation and had begun looking into the allegations surrounding the incident.
Speaking in an interview at his office on Sunday, Mompoloki Ramaphoi, the Mogoditshane Police Station acting commander, said officers were still investigating the matter.
“We are still investigating the issue,” Ramaphoi said. “Some members allege that others were disrupting church proceedings and that one individual drove into the church gate.”
He explained that police were currently engaging the parties involved in an effort to resolve the dispute amicably.
“At this stage, we are still talking to them and trying to reconcile the parties involved. If reconciliation fails, they may have to return to court for further guidance,” he said.
Ramaphoi added that, as of Sunday afternoon, no criminal case had yet been formally opened in connection with the incident.
The latest confrontation highlights the ongoing tensions within the Mogoditshane ZCC branch despite the earlier court directive encouraging reconciliation.
For many congregants, the hope remains that church leaders and members from both factions will eventually find common ground and restore unity within the church.