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On behalf of the family of Reverend John Langalibalele Dube, the first President of the African National Congress - we wish to send our message of condolences to the families of the victims of the church tragedy in Empangeni.

Hours after we received the news of the passing away of 13 members of the Pentecostal Holiness Church we are still in deep shock. The pain felt by the families is immeasurable. Those who are injured and the witnesses of this tragic incident will require ongoing counselling as this has been a traumatic experience.

We thank the President of the Republic Cyril Ramaphosa, KwaZulu-Natal government and all municipalities that are assisting the families and the church. We commend leaders of political parties for coming closer to the families and the church.  As the Dube family we have been keeping in touch with the church and arrangements are underway to meet with the families.

We pause to remember that the Reverend John Langalibalele Dube, moulded the founder of the Pentecostal Holiness Church - Rev Kynock Sibiya and his brother Rev Alpheus Sibiya who were very young at that time. The church was established in 1913 and it turned 100 years in 2013.

Reverend William Cullen and his wife Ida Belle Wilcox, who settled in Inanda as missionaries of the American Board of Commissioners where influential in establishing the church.  Reverend William and his wife helped educate John Dube in America.

After the death of Rev John Langalibalele Dube in 1947, Rev Kynock Sibiya and Rev Alpheus Sibiya developed a special relationship with Inkosi Albert Luthuli, the first African Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

In the face of oppression, they believed that the people of this country needed spiritual guidance and a message of God to uplift their spirits. They used the church to encourage people to live in harmony.

It was their belief that the leaders of faith had to work with all leaders of society and ordinary members of society across all political affiliation to bring peace and stability to the troubled apartheid South Africa. Rev Kynock Sibiya and Rev Alpheus Sibiya related with leaders of all political parties until they departed from this earth. It is not suprizing that leaders of political parties – ANC, IFP, NFP and EFF have visited the church and the families of the victims.

During this week of mourning we need to reflect on the work of Pentecostal Holiness Church in promoting respect, tolerance, love, friendship, peace and development amongst various communities in this country.

May the Lord give strength to the families and the leadership of the church.

Issued by Langa Dube on behalf of Rev John Langalibalele Dube Family – the First President of the ANC