Church fires priest over ties to ANC

Johannesburg - A Limpopo priest has been fired because of his close ties with the ANC, the Sowetan reported on Friday.

Reverend Timothy Xaba, 52, of the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) was fired in July as minister of the Polokwane central congregation.

In June last year, Xaba was approached to help lead Polokwane communities in prayer for the then sickly former president Nelson Mandela. After a moving prayer, he was appointed chaplain of the African National Congress.

Xaba then featured in many ANC events and government functions, where he led prayers.

The leadership of the URCSA was not happy about this and wrote a letter to Xaba terminating his contract.

In the letter, the leadership expressed dissatisfaction with Xaba's role in the ANC.

"It has come to the attention of the URCSA that you have availed yourself and [been] appointed in the office of chaplaincy in the governing body of the ANC in Limpopo. As a result you forfeit your status as a minister of the word in the URCSA with immediate effect," the letter stated, according to the newspaper.

The church also requested Xaba to return his licence to practise as a pastor.

Xaba said he did not receive any remuneration for his job as a chaplain.