The life and times of the late New African Apostolic Church (NAAC) founder, Archbishop Peter Rabali, were relived during a function to remember him. The archbishop, who was also a prominent South African businessman and once owned the premiership soccer outfit Dynamos FC, passed away on 9 July 2020.

The church, which has branches all over the country and in Zimbabwe, has its headquarters at Harabali in Vhembe and was founded in 2014 by the late leader as a splinter from the United African Apostolic Church (UAAC).

The remembrance service took place at the church’s headquarters on Sunday, 14 July. The function also included the ordination of Bishop Lufuno Mavhunga as bishop for Limpopo.

NAAC leader and the late archbishop’s wife Archbishop Florence Manenzhe Rabali said it had become a tradition at the church to come together on 9 July each year to reflect on the good deeds and celebrate a life well lived by the late archbishop. “My husband was a God-fearing person who had a big impact on me and the community at large. He helped many in need; through his companies, he employed many. He assisted with education costs and also founded this church. One thing he taught me was to build a good relationship with God,” she said.

One of the late archbishop’s wishes was to ordain a new bishop. Bishop Lufuno Mavhunga, who will oversee Limpopo, was the first bishop ordained after the death of Archbishop Peter Rabali.

Archbishop Elect Ndikandafhi Makhuvha of the African Union Churches Parliament described the late archbishop as a selfless man of God who had helped many without expecting anything in return. “As bishops and leaders of different churches, we came to pay homage to this great man of God,” he said.