The Catholic Church has suspended Father Jabulani Ndaba, a priest and eShowe ward councillor candidate for uMhlathuze Municipality, for standing for political office without seeking permission from church superiors. According to a letter seen by the Sunday Tribune, Ndaba was informed on September 21 that he had been suspended from active priestly ministry with effect from September 19 by the Apostolic Administrator of eShowe, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier. The suspension followed Ndaba's decision to stand for political office without the knowledge or permission of his church superiors.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has questioned the Catholic Church's decision to suspend Ndaba. MKP spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu, a pastor, said ideally Ndaba should have notified the church of his intention to enter politics because "he was in the full employ of the church." Mahlangu expressed concerns about the church's handling of the situation, stating that the church should have engaged Ndaba before suspending him.
Napier's letter stated that Ndaba had been suspended for "accepting political office without prior permission from his rightful ecclesiastical superior". The decision was taken in accordance with Canon Law and strictly followed the appropriate canonical procedure. Ndaba is therefore not to exercise public priestly ministry, including celebrating Mass and the sacraments, preaching, pastoral ministry, or any other ecclesiastical ministry, until further notice.
Ndaba and Napier declined to comment on the matter. Ndaba stated that as a suspended priest, anything he said could be used against or for him, and his lawyer had advised him not to speak to the media about his decision to contest the ward seat for the MKP. The MKP has several members who are church leaders, and Mahlangu said he didn't imagine the church to have acted correctly by suspending Ndaba without proper engagement.
Ndaba is not the first Catholic priest to face disciplinary action over political involvement. In 2022, Fr Hyacinth Alia was suspended by the Catholic Diocese of Gboko in Benue State, Nigeria, after he declared his candidacy for governor. However, Alia won the election and became governor in 2023. In contrast, Catholic clergy have previously held public office in South Africa, such as Father Simangaliso Mkhatshwa, who served as an ANC Member of Parliament and later became deputy minister of education.
A head of one of South Africa's Catholic seminaries, who declined to be named, said priests cannot be politicians and should remain neutral. He stated that priests have a responsibility to encourage people to exercise their voting rights and strive for justice, but should not take sides as they minister to people from different political parties. The seminary head noted that Mkhatshwa's involvement in politics was different because he had entered politics during the struggle against apartheid.
The suspension of Ndaba raises questions about the role of clergy in politics. As the 2026 local government elections approach, it remains to be seen how the Catholic Church will handle similar situations in the future. The MKP's concerns about the church's handling of Ndaba's suspension highlight the complexities of balancing spiritual and political roles.
Key points
- The Catholic Church suspended Father Jabulani Ndaba for standing for political office without permission.
- The uMkhonto weSizwe Party questions the church's decision to suspend Ndaba.
- Catholic clergy have previously held public office in South Africa, but with varying degrees of involvement.
