The controversy reached a head this month when church members threatened to shut down the diocese unless immediate action is taken by the primate, the Most Rev. Thabo Makgoba.
Bishop May is accused of stealing R5 million from a charitable organization. Senior priests in the diocese allege that Bishop May used these funds to purchase a farm in Brakpan, with accusations that money from parish investments is being used to cover up or pay off this alleged theft, the Sunday World reports.
Bishop May allegedly failed to release R798,000 from the sale of a church house in Secunda that was designated for rebuilding St Joseph parish church. Despite a signed contract with builders and repeated requests from the Rev. Sanele Nhlapo, the diocese has withheld the money, leading to suspicions of embezzlement[, the Sunday World stated.
At St Boniface Parish in Vosloorus, church members have accused the rector of using church bank cards to make unauthorized ATM withdrawals totaling over R120,000 between January and July 2022. The parish’s investment account allegedly dropped from R679,000 in 2019 to R85,500 in 2021, with Bishop May accused of failing to investigate these financial irregularities.
BIshop May is also accused of sexual misconduct, allegedly having engaged in inappropriate relationships with clergy wives and ex-wives. Fr. Nhlapo has alleged Bishop May continued visiting his ex-wife’s home after their divorce, sometimes staying late into the night.
The Sunday World also reported multiple priests described the diocese as “a living hell” under Bishop May’s leadership. After Fr. Nhlapo filed his complaint against Bishop May, the bishop suspended Fr. Nhlapo for 18-months for alleged “oppressive behavior,” “bullying,” and “threats” toward church members – actions that critics view as retaliation for whistleblowing.
Bishop May has been further accused of transferring priests facing serious allegations to better-resourced parishes rather than properly investigating misconduct. In one case, a priest accused of sexual harassment and financial embezzlement was moved from St Boniface in Vosloorus to a more prominent Johannesburg parish.
No church court or tribunal has weighed the merits of these charges, and the bishop denies any wrong doing. Bishop May was elected as bishop by the Synod of Bishops sitting in Johannesburg in May 2015. He was consecrated and enthroned as bishop of the Highveld on 12 September 2015. He previously been the Dean of Johannesburg.
In response to the diocese’s leadership crisis, a petition titled “Save The Diocese of the Highveld” was launched in June 2025. The petition, organized by “Laity In Action – Reclaiming & Restoring The Highveld Diocese,” demands: Unconditional reinstatement of all suspended and dismissed clergy and laity; A full forensic audit of all diocesan, guild, and organizational accounts; Immediate reinstatement of dismissed clergy including Reverend Nhlapo as Archdeacon of Igwa; Cancellation of all parish assessment arrears.
The petition threatens a “total shutdown of the diocese and non-payment of assessments” beginning August 2, 2025, if demands are not met by July 26, 2025. This represents an unprecedented level of organized resistance from the laity within the Anglican Church of Southern Africa.
Archbishop Thabo Makgoba’s response has been restrained. In his October 17, 2024 letter to Reverend Nhlapo, Makgoba acknowledged receiving the complaint but stated he had “not convened any investigative team, nor have I initiated an investigation into this matter”, characterizing it as “a diocesan issue” that should be addressed through diocesan structures.
The Diocese of Highveld has been plagued by various scandals throughout Bishop May’s tenure. In 2023, allegations emerged involving child abuse and financial misconduct, with the diocese being accused of protecting priests involved in inappropriate conduct with minors, the Sunday World reported.
The diocese has faced multiple sexual harassment allegations, including cases involving church cleaners and staff members. In one case, a female cleaner at St Boniface Anglican Church alleged sexual harassment by a priest, leading to her dismissal after she rejected his advances.
The allegations against Bishop May represent one of the most serious governance and safeguarding crises in recent Anglican Church of Southern Africa history, with implications extending beyond the diocese to questions about episcopal accountability and the effectiveness of church disciplinary procedures.
The crisis occurs against the backdrop of broader safeguarding concerns within the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, including the church’s handling of the John Smyth affair and other abuse cases alongside reviews of safeguarding procedures. The situation continues to develop as community pressure mounts for intervention from provincial authorities.