The South African religious community is mourning the death of veteran cleric Rev Ephraim Muneri Madzivhandila of Tshakhuma village.
Born on 1 August 1934, Madzivhandila died peacefully on Friday, 5 December, at the age of 91. Although retired from active ministry, he held the title of emeritus in recognition of his lifelong service to the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA).
Born in Tshakhuma, Madzivhandila qualified as a teacher at the then Vendaland Training Institute in 1958. The following year, he began preaching the gospel under trees at Tshilivho, Dumasi, Makhuvha, Mutoti and Habudeli villages, a ministry he continued for eight years.
In 1967, he attended theology school at Turfloop, where he qualified as a pastor in 1970. He was officially ordained in 1971 as a pastor for the then NG Kerk in Afrika (now URCSA) and deployed to Makonde, where he served from 1971 to 1995. During this period, he also ministered to the Gaba, Tshiombo and Lukalo branches. In 1995, he was transferred to the Nthume branch, where he worked until his retirement in 2000.
He helped to establish many churches in Venda and played numerous roles in the church. Among them, he served as the voice-over artist for the first Tshivenda film of Jesus.
Madzivhandila was among the first pastors to serve as a resident preacher on Radio Venda, where his sermons reached audiences across the region. He also played a key role in language development, serving on the team that revised the 1936 Tshivenda Bible into modern Tshivenda. In addition, he led the translation of the Hosanna Hymn Book from Sesotho into Tshivenda.
At Makonde, Madzivhandila was regarded as a pioneer in the community and is remembered as one of the first residents of Makonde village to own a motor vehicle. He was also among the first pastors in the former Venda government to conduct services at police stations and army bases.
Members of the older generation often associated his powerful preaching voice with Radio Venda, where he became widely known. After retiring from his pastoral duties at Makonde, he returned to his home village of Tshakhuma, where he spent his final years with his family.
His son, Khathutshelo Madzivhandila, said the family took comfort in his father's fulfilled calling.
"We are so grateful to the Lord for giving us a wonderful gift in our father. As a prolific preacher, our father served the Lord for the rest of his life, until his last day on earth. He has touched many lives, and his contributions in spreading the word of God will never be forgotten."
He is survived by his wife, Vho Mme Emelinah Funzani Madzivhandila, and five children: Livhuwani, Fulufhelo, Khathutshelo, Tshilidzi and Tshifhiwa.
A memorial service was held at Tshilidzini URCSA on Thursday, 11 December. Madzivhandila was laid to rest on Friday, 12 December, at Tshakhuma village.