The late Benedict Daswa who is likely to be South Africa's first saint.
Image by: Thohoyandou Roman Catholic Church.
On February 2 1990 a mob of villagers murdered him when he refused to support their superstitions.
Yesterday, the Catholic church confirmed Daswa as a "venerable servant of God".
Pope Francis has declared February 1 the feast day of Blessed Daswa. A shrine will be built in the area at which he may be venerated.
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".
Daswa - a lay preacher, teacher and father - was clubbed to death and had boiling water poured into his ears and nostrils after he refused to pay a sangoma to ferret out "a witch causing lightning".
His final words were: "God, into Your hands, receive my spirit."
Father Joseph Wilson, of the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, said Daswa "is well on his way to becoming a saint".
"He now has the same status as Mother Teresa."
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