Reverend Segatlhe triumphs against Lutheran Church
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday October 25, 2017 18:00
Justice Michael Mothobi of the Gaborone High Court yesterday dismissed the case with costs, as the applicant, the ELCB, had failed to meet court requirements. According to Justice Mothobi, the church failed to show the place of operation and whether the church’s constitution allows to be sued or to sue.
ELCB had gone to court to seek an interdict to block Segatlhe from ministering. ELCB board had, back in 2010, terminated and withdrew Segatlhe’s church membership.
But Reverend Segatlhe, with the backing of a section of the church membership, ignored the board decision and continued practising as a priest of the ELCB at Ramotswa.
After Justice Mothobi delivered the judgement, there was all round ululation with some members of the church openly crying tears of joy. Among the celebrators was the ELCB secretary for Ramotswa branch, Joyce Sengate who declared: “We are very happy that justice has been done. Honestly our church council should sit with the church members and discuss this issue because we do not know what Segatlhe has done. We need to map the way forward and cooperate. As members we believe that there should be peace and we are ready to reconcile with church council”.
However, the ECLB secretary general for Botswana, Dickson Moyambo warned the Reverend and his supporters not to celebrate as the matter is far from over. “They have won us on technicality because we had not provided court with necessary documents such as to show place of our operation and even to tell the court whether we can be sued or sue. We will go back to our structures to advise us whether to appeal or re-register the matter. We want the case to be judged on merits so that we know we acted wrongly or not. Our stand is clear that Segatlhe is illegal in church premises and also practising as a priest,” Moyambo said.
The church says the reason why Segatlhe did not challenge his termination of his membership and withdrawal of ordination shows that he agreed with it. Reverend Segatlhe and his church had a fall out back in 2010, and Reverend Kedibonye Botlhole was appointed in his position.
Segatlhe did not take the decision kindly and continued ministering despite having lost initially the case in which he challenged the suspension in 2011.