‘I REALLY WANTED TO STAB YOU’

Sikhumbuzo Shongwe in high spirits during the service. (Pics: Lindekile Khumalo)

MANZINI – There was drama at the Devine Healing Ministries on Friday night when Sikhumbuzo Shongwe, the son of Bishop Nash, pointed at a journalist, telling him he once planned to stab him.

The journalist is Mfanukhona Nkambule, a senior Times SUNDAY journalist.
This was during an all-night prayer service to thank God for sustaining Divine Healing Ministries since its establishment 20 years ago. 
Meanwhile, Sikhumbuzo credited his father and mother for standing by him and praying day and night for his life.

He recalled that the name of his father, a man of honour and integrity, who served His Majesty the King with love and loyalty, was all over the newspapers for the wrongs done by him as his notorious son.

He said social media mockers were also on his case – week in and week out. He said journalists, including, Mfanukhona Nkambule, took turns at writing negative stories about him. “I am happy that one of the journalists whom I almost stabbed in 2004 is here with us tonight covering the event. He is here to witness a changed Sikhumbuzo,” he said, to a round of applause.

He told the journalist: “Bengikufuna ngeligotjwa wena” (I really wanted to stab you).
He then shook hands with Nkambule and remarked, “In 2004, those were the tough times for the two of us but we have to thank Jesus for saving our lives. We are friends today.”

Sikhumbuzo said his past shenanigans, including beating men as old as Deputy Prime Minister Paul Dlamini, were a thing of the past.
Shongwe, the son of Bishop Nash, stole the show on Friday night when he declared this before the DPM.
Giving a keynote testimony before a congregation of over 1 000 believers at Divine Healing Ministries International auditorium, the born-again Shongwe described his past mischievous life which disgraced his father Bishop Nash Shongwe.

Sikhumbuzo, dressed in a navy blue suit, before testifying about his new life in Jesus, led the congregation in song titled ‘Uzulazule Jesu Afuna Mine’. He was a major draw-card for the service. The worshippers got on their feet, dancing to the song.

While seated, Sikhumbuzo showed that he was a changed man as he would glance at the ceiling, with his hands lifted up and say, “Yes Jesus, thank you Lord, you are marvellous and you are awesome my God. Holy is your name and there’s no one like you.”  

 
Seated next to him was Constable Mfundo Tsabedze, a police officer suspended for being implicated in an armed robbery case at Riverstone Mall in Manzini where E1 million was stolen in 2012. For the Riverstone heist, he was admitted to E50 000 bail and subsequently suspended from work.

Tsabedze also testified during the All Night Prayer Service that he had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
Sikhumbuzo then narrated how evil he was and how disrespectful he had been in his youth days; hitting old man of the DPM’s age. “Honourable DPM, I was very fearless and didn’t hesitate to slap a man of your age on the face,” he said. This part of his testimony amused the congregants.
He said he survived death at some point when a mob armed with all sorts of missiles pounced on him and left him for dead.
Due to his notoriety, he said, gangsters would devise a plan to attack him.

He cited an incident where gangsters from a certain location led by a powerful ringleader hit him on the head with an axe such that his clothes were drenched in blood. He had to run to hide in the forest. He said the mob pursued him, baying for his blood.
He said while the mobsters were combing the forest, the ringleader saw him leaning against a tree and struggling to gain composure.

Sikhumbuzo said he heard the man who had been giving orders telling his gang to go back because he (Shongwe) was not in the forest.
“Brethren, I was saved from death by the man who had ordered the gang to kill me. In fact I was saved by God Almighty, the one I am worshipping today,” he said, to a loud applause.

Sikhumbuzo testified that he would sometimes elude arrest. “I used to be the most wanted man in Manzini as I stabbed many people. I always kept a three-star knife in my pocket,” he said.
He was a nice person when he was sober but violent when he was drunk. Sikhumbuzo then said he now hated alcohol with all his life. He read from John 10:10 where Jesus said: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Sikhumbuzo also narrated an event when he had to hide from the police in a place on the outskirts of Manzini. He said he went to a certain homestead to ask for shelter. The owner of the place refused to give him shelter because he (owner) could have also been arrested for harbouring a wanted criminal suspect.

He said there was nowhere now to hide except to sleep in a goat kraal. “I know how it feels to sleep with goats,” he said.
He said the goats would move up and down, bleating and causing sleep loss. He was thankful to his father for not discarding him. “My father would always say to me that he would not die until I accept Jesus Christ. He was prophesying good things about me despite the fact that I was a bad person,” he said.

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