SA’s Daswa makes history

The Roman Catholic Church yesterday beatified South Africa’s first Catholic martyr, Tshimangadzo Samuel Benedict Daswa, calling him “a person of deep prayer and spirituality”.

In both his private and public life Daswa took a strong stand in his faith, insisting on rejecting cultural practices that were not aligned to his religious beliefs.

He was beaten to death 25 years ago by fellow villagers after he refused to pay a sorcerer who promised to end destructive storms hammering the region.

His murderers then poured boiling water in his ears and nostrils to make sure he was dead – and all that happened on February 2 1990 the day the apartheid regime announced it would release anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of SA pastor Tshenuwani Farisani said the event was a “rueful” one because “I am sure his killers, or their descendants, are here”.

“The beatification service will restore the dignity of Mr Daswa and inspire people all over the world to do good at all times even under extremely hard situations”.

Daswa is the first ever South African to be made saint and martyr. Following the beatification, his feast day will be celebrated annually on February 1.

The deputy president has remembered the blessed Daswa as a fearless man, a loving father and son and an inspiration to South Africa.

Apart from the 30 000 people who gathered at Thohoyandou, millions of other Catholics in Africa were expected to have followed the beatification ceremony of Benedict Daswa via digital satellite television, DSTV on the SABC’s news channel 404 that is widely followed on the continent.

Traditional performers from the local Venda people dressed in colourful striped outfits sang and danced ahead of the mass. “It’s very nice”.

‘He was always bringing people to hospitals, taking care of children and elders. “He had a great value for education”.

“As the Church of Southern Africa, we are deeply grateful to his holiness Pope Francis for granting our request for this beatification and for delegating Cardinal Amato to be with us today”.