On Sunday, 30 April, the church service at The Living World Gospel Mission Church in Tshilivho village, near Ha-Makhuvha, nearly came to standstill when Vhamusanda Mulindathavha Tshinetise of Dovheni village and his royal entourage entered the main hall of the church, where Vhamusanda Tshinetise was officially welcomed as legitimate member of the church.
Vhamusanda Tshinetise, who made the decision himself to repent a few months ago, received high honour during his welcoming ceremony, which was also attended by other traditional leaders around the Vhembe region.
"It is a great honour for us to be joined here by a traditional leader like Vhamusanda Tshinetise, and we warmly welcome him to the church. This is your church now. We urge you to help the church by recruiting more traditional leaders to join our church," said Pastor Rembuluwani Kharivhe, the President of The Living World Gospel Mission Church.
Makhadzi Tshinetise-Mutswaletswale, Vhamusanda Tshinetise's sister, said she could not believe that her brother had finally decided to go to church to repent. She said she had asked him many times to do so, but he had always refused, arguing that the time for him to go was not ripe yet. She was very happy that her brother was now a full member of The Living World Gospel Mission Church, saying that she expected his communities in Dovheni village to follow suit.