A South African priest went into hiding last month fearing for his life after he received death threats.
Local reports said Fr Nkosinathi Ngcobo, based in the coastal city of Durban, received the threat in a letter delivered by an altar server.
This followed what were described as worsening tensions within the parish, though no details were disclosed, highlighting the country’s deepening homicide crisis.
South Africa’s murder rate is 95 per cent higher than the average for G20 countries.
Bishop Kwenzakufani Zondi, an auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Durban, confirmed the priest’s departure from his parish.
“Yes, Fr Ngcobo is not at the parish at the moment. He left due to internal problems within the parish,” he said.
“I am aware of the issues surrounding Fr Ngcobo. It became clear that there were some parish members who did not like him. This is not unusual in our line of work – not everyone will like you.”
The priest’s flight came weeks after the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference raised concerns about the “normalisation of violence in educational spaces”, following reports of escalating murder cases within school premises.
There was an assault on a congregant of Fr Ngcobo’s parish in November, according to local reports, while widespread violence has affected the church in many other parts of the country.
In April 2024, a priest was found dead in his car after being shot by unknown assailants. The case remains unsolved.
That March, a man shot dead a Zambian missionary as he prepared for Mass in Tzaneen.
Last year, a video circulated on social media showing parishioners in a South African town chanting and harassing a Catholic bishop who had to seek a police escort fearing for his life.
The SACBC has repeatedly condemned what its November statement called a “national moral failure” by the government to address violence and murder in public places.
The bishops have also voiced concern about the country’s high rate of femicide.