The Day Benedict Daswa was Beatified

by Admin · September 13, 2025

Benedict Daswa 10 years of beatification

Bottom left: A pilgrim to the beatification reads one of 5000 copies of The Southern Cross handed out for free. Bottom right: Bishop João Rodrigues of Tzaneen holds up Pope Francis’ decree declaring Benedict Daswa a Blessed.

On September 13, 2015, about 35000 pilgrims gathered in Tshitanini, outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo’s Tzaneen diocese, for the historic beatification of Benedict Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa.

Hymns, ululations and joyful singing echoed across the hills as Cardinal Angelo Amato, representing Pope Francis, read the apostolic letter proclaiming Daswa “Blessed”. Bishop João Rodrigues of Tzaneen held up the decree, eliciting a resounding cheer from the crowds.

The declaration confirmed that the Venda schoolteacher and father of eight, who was martyred for his faith on February 2, 1990, was now in direct communion with God. Daswa was killed by a mob in his home village after refusing to participate in a witchcraft ritual.

“Benedict was a true missionary of Christ,” said Cardinal Amato, praising Daswa’s dedication as a catechist, educator, family man, and community leader. “He fed upon the Word of God… He loved his Church. But above all, he loved his faith in God.”

Cyril Ramaphosa, then deputy president and himself a Venda man, was among the dignitaries present. Pilgrims from across the country and beyond travelled long distances to be there. “We have our own martyr now. Someone we can pray to,” Dumzane Nkewtshawe, who had travelled from Witbank, told The Southern Cross at the time.

Daswa’s mother, Ida, and other family members were present to witness the declaration. Fr Augustine O’Brien, who baptised Daswa in 1963, travelled from Ireland for the beatification. Fr John Finn, who performed Daswa’s funeral, also attended.

“We have had thousands of saints, but in the whole of human history I doubt we have had present a mother, all children, his brother, sisters, the priest who baptised him and the priest who performed his funeral,” Archbishop William Slattery of Pretoria observed.

Five-thousand free copies of The Southern Cross, with a special Daswa feature and poster, were handed out to the crowd, many of whom sat on rocks and picnic chairs enjoying the newspaper before the start of the ceremony.

Bl Daswa’s remains were reinterred at the church he had helped build in Nweli. “There has to be a place where people can venerate and pray at his grave site,” the late Bishop Hugh Slattery, who initiated the cause to have Daswa beatified, said at the time. Bl Daswa’s feast day is observed annually on February 1.