In a Monday, April 29 statement, members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) lament the tragic death of another Catholic priest in South Africa.

In the statement signed by SACBC President, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, the Bishops express condolences following the “tragic news of the demise” of “Fr. Paul Tatu, through a gunshot.”

“Fr. Tatu worked for several years as the SACBC media and communications officer with dedication; we are saddened by his tragic death. We extend our condolences to the Stigmatine congregation, to which he belonged and his family,” said the Bishops in the statement signed by SACBC President, Bishop Sithembele Sipuka.

The Catholic Bishops of the three-nation Conference further say, “It must be noted that the death of Fr Tatu is not an isolated incident but rather a distressing example of the deteriorating state of security and morality in South Africa.”

“Fr. Tatu’s death occurred soon after another young priest, Fr. William Banda, was shot in cold blood and died soon after in Tzaneen. The murder of these priests occurs amid growing concerns about the increasing disregard for the value of life, where people are wantonly killed,” They add.

In their collective statement, the Bishops call “for the respect of life,” and appeal to the President and Police minister “to make the well-being and safety” of law-abiding citizens “a top priority.”

“As a church, we are at your disposal for discussion and strategies to stop the murder of innocent people, which is now becoming a pandemic in this country,” they conclude.

Meanwhile, in a communiqué shared with the SACBC communication office, the Provincial Secretary of the Congregation of the Sacred Stigmata of our Lorde Jesus Christ (Stigmatines) asks for prayers for “the Stigmatines and the Mothibi family” as they “are still battling to come to terms” with the atrocious act.

According to Rev. Fr. Jeremia Thami Mkhwanazi css “funeral arrangements will be communicated soon.”