Is Daswa SA’s first Saint?

The sainthood cause for Benedict Daswa is the first for a South African-born Catholic. CLAIRE MATHIESON learns more about his life.

Benedict Daswas car was trashed by a mob and he was killed in February 1990.

Benedict Daswas car was trashed by a mob and he was killed in February 1990.

One Friday night, in February 1990, Benedict Daswa was helping a man carry a heavy load home. Being one of the few in the area with a car, he gladly took the man to a neighbouring village.

When he returned home, Benedict found his way blocked by tree logs across the road. When he alighted, a mob of youths and adults came from behind trees and began throwing large stones at him.

Bleeding and injured, he left the car and ran across the Eleven Computers football field hoping for assistance from nearby rondavels, one being a shebeen where people were drinking traditional beer, said Bishop Joao  Rodrigues of Tzaneen, where Benedicts village is found.

When he realised the mob was still coming, Benedict ran out and hid in another rondavel kitchen. But when the mob arrived they asked the woman where Benedict was hiding, indicating that they would kill her if she did not tell them, the bishop said.

Two boys from the mob entered and pulled Benedict out of the rondavel. Benedict hugged one of them and pleaded for his life. Then a man from the mob came forward holding a knobkerrie.

Benedict prayed aloud, saying: God, into your hands receive my spirit. Everything happened very quickly, said Bishop Rodrigues. Benedict was hit on the head with the knobkerrie, crushing his skull. Boiling water was then poured over Benedicts head, ears, nostrils and injuries.

A number of people were

arrested for Benedicts murder, police investigated and forensic specialists studied the scene, but when the case came to court it was dismissed through lack of evidence.

Born on June 16, 1946 as Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa, in the former Venda homeland, he was raised in the Lemba tribe, which claims affinity with the Jewish culture.

The young Samuel was a herdboy before going to school and would work in his fathers garden where he gained a great love of working with the land.

Bishop Hugh Slattery, retired of Tzaneen, said Samuel came from a family of hard workers which would be a theme throughout his life. When his father died in an accident, Samuel took responsibility for caring for his younger brother and sister. He would continue to help pay for their education when he joined the workforce, and encouraged them to study.

It was during a school holiday that Samuel became friendly with a young white man who was also a Catholic. After returning to Mbahe, Samuel joined a group of Catholics who met for instructions in the faith under a fig tree.

The 17-year-old Samuel was baptised on April 21, 1963. He took the name Benedict, inspired by his catechist, Benedict Risimati, and the motto of St Benedict, Ora et labora pray and work. Three months later he was confirmed.

After qualifying as a teacher, Benedict became active in his community, in teachers unions, in sport, and in the daily and political life of his community.

He was also a very active layman, said Bishop Slattery. He would conduct Sunday services when the priest was not there, he would work closely with the priest, supporting him financially and morally, and he would give instruction to the youth and the elderly.

Benedict was even involved in building the communitys church, always volunteering to use his bakkie to fetch materials, never asking for petrol money.

Bishop Slattery said when Benedict became a Catholic he was able to combine his traditional love of work received from his family and the importance of work in Christianity.

Bishop Xolelo Kumalo of Eshowe said it was not enough for Benedict to attend Mass only on Sundays and go home. When he was baptised, he was changed and he wanted to witness to those who had not received.

Benedict was appointed principal of the local primary school in 1977. He was seen to be a person of influence. His brick home, car, television, telephone and thriving orchards were seen as signs of prosperity and he was looked on with envy by his adversaries, said Bishop Rodrigues.

Benedict married Shadi Eveline Monyai in 1980 and they had eight children, the last being born four months after Benedicts death.

As a husband and father, Benedict was exemplary. He believed that helping his wife with the children and household chores were part of his marriage commitment. The family prayed together each evening and always attended the Sunday liturgical celebration.

Bishop Rodrigues said Benedict was a man who gave tirelessly to the Catholic community. He was a man of prayer and committed to sharing his faith with others. Produce from his garden would be given to the needy. Those in need of transport could rely on him at any time for assistance. In the general community, Benedict was highly respected.

The bishop of Tzaneen said Benedict was also known for his absolute honesty, truthfulness and integrity. He spoke his mind and was not swayed by popular opinion.

So why was Benedict killed?

The killing of Benedict Daswa was the culmination of some years of tension between Benedicts faith in Jesus Christ and certain people of the local communities and villages where he lived and worked, said Bishop Rodrigues.

Benedict was known for his firm stand against the practice of witchcraft of all kinds because he relied on God and Gods blessings for all his needs and the needs of the local communities. However, many disagreed.

One of his initiatives to help the youth in his community was in 1976 the formation of a football team called the Mbahe Eleven Computers. After initial success, the team began losing games and it was proposed that a sangoma be consulted to obtain muti to help improve the teams performance. Benedict spoke out strongly against the proposal. He was outnumbered, said Bishop Rodrigues.

Benedict chose to leave the club and formed another football team, the Mbahe Freedom Rebels, with some players who had supported him. His decision was the beginning of a campaign of hatred and jealousy towards him by some people.

In November 1989, heavy rains and lightning strikes were prevalent in the Venda area. This was not seen as a natural phenomenon but instead members of the community became very concerned as to who was responsible.

In early 1990, after a heavy downpour on Thursday, January 25, there were several lightning strikes in the area. The headman, his council and the community met to discuss their concerns.

It was agreed that a traditional healer be consulted to identify the witch who was responsible for the burnings.

The bishop said a contribution of R5 per person was agreed on. But Benedict would not pay, stating that his faith prevented him from taking part in witchcraft. He argued the lightning was a natural phenomenon.

Many in the community saw him as belittling traditional beliefs and conspired to get rid of him because to them he was a stumbling block because of his Catholic faith and consistent stand against witchcraft.

Benedict was 44 when he was murdered on February 2, 1990 and was buried a few days later. He was considered a martyr immediately.

By common agreement, all wore red vestments in acknowledgment of their belief that Benedict died for his faith and that it was his stand against witchcraft which had brought about his death, said Bishop Rodrigues.

In 2005, the first cause of a South African-born Catholic to be proposed for beatification and canonisation began. Four years later, it was sent to the prefect of the Congregation for Causes of Saints, where it shall remain until the congregation approves a Roman postulator to proceed with the next phase of the process.

From the moment he was baptised to the moment he died, Benedict gave tirelessly to the Church, dying for his faith a saintly act, indeed.

Next week: Benedict and the canonisation process.