Silinde u-Yesu (Awaiting Christ Church)

An apocalyptic cult known for rejecting medicine and the discovery of dead bodies at their site

1990s - 2003

Nokulunga Fiphaza (founder) (via Journeyman Pictures)

Silinde u-Yesu, or the Awaiting Christ Church, a cult in South Africa, stands out for its fervent belief in the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ. At the core of Silinde u-Yesu's teachings is the conviction that members must live a life of purity and devotion, preparing themselves for Christ's return. This belief has led to the adoption of specific lifestyle choices that starkly differentiate the members from the broader society. Among these are strict dietary guidelines that exclude certain foods deemed impure, communal living arrangements that aim to foster a closer spiritual community, and a cautious approach to technology, which the church argues distracts from spiritual devotion.

The church's leader, a charismatic figure who claims to have a direct line to divine insight, has been both revered by members and questioned by outsiders. This leader's teachings emphasize a departure from modern societal norms, advocating for a return to what they interpret as a more authentic, unblemished way of living. This has included, according to reports, strict dietary regulations, communal living arrangements, and a renunciation of certain technological advancements that are seen as distractions from spiritual focus.

However, it is the controversies surrounding Silinde u-Yesu that have drawn the most attention. Critics accuse the church of isolating its members from their families and the broader community, creating a closed society where questioning the leadership or doctrines is not tolerated. There have been alarming stories of families torn apart, with members ceasing all contact with those outside the church. The group's practices, especially those involving children, have raised eyebrows and prompted calls for investigation by authorities.

One of the most controversial aspects of Silinde u-Yesu is its insular nature. Reports have surfaced of members being encouraged, or even required, to cut ties with family members not affiliated with the church. Moreover, the church's practices concerning children have been a point of contention. There are claims of children being raised in a highly controlled environment, with limited exposure to the outside world, including conventional education systems, which has raised concerns about their welfare and rights.

Attempts to investigate or gain a deeper understanding of Silinde u-Yesu have often been met with resistance. The church maintains a guarded stance towards the media and researchers, leading to a scarcity of verified information about its internal workings. This lack of transparency has fueled further speculation and concern about the nature of its practices.

In 2003, twelve members were arrested for their involvement in hiding the bodies of deceased members. The cult is believed to have dissolved shortly after these arrests.

Religion: Christianity

Denomination: Evangelical

Founder: Nokulunga Fiphaza

Founded: 1990s (estimated)

Ended: 2003

Location: Umtata, South Africa

Size: over 100

Offshoot of: Apostolic Faith Church

Anti-Medicine

Discouraged seeing doctors and insisted that sick people should not be treated (source, source, source)
Believed that no one in the cult could get sick or die (source, source)
It is believed that the cult hid the bodies (see "murder" section below) to conceal the fact that members were getting sick and dying, in contradiction to the cult's teachings (source)

Anti-Education

Does not send children to school, since they do not want the children to "mix with people who have not prepared themselves" (source, source, source)
Members believe that schools “satanic” and “teaching fornication” (source)

Anti-Marriage

All marriages that after 1990 were considered null and void (source)

Communal

Members lives together in a compound (source, source)

Doomsday

Said that Jesus would return in May 1997 (source)
Predicted the return of Jesus on December 20, 1997 (source)
Has wrongly predicted the end of the world at least two times (source)
Predicted Jesus would return on December 31, 1999 (source)
Also reportedly predicted Jesus would on July 31, 2000, although they later denied this (source)
Sisize Nokwali, Fiphaza's assistant, believed that animal motifs on South African notes is a sign of the beast described in the book of Revelation (source)
In August 2000, Nokwali insisted that the end of the world is close enough to render long-term planning futile (source)
According to locals, the cult greets natural phenomena such as heavy rain clouds or a cloudless, starry night with paranoia, enthusiastically performing prayer rituals, believing the moment of truth to have finally arrived (source)
When the predictions failed to happen, members were told it was because the people were not ready yet (source)

Leader-Prophet

Fiphaza claimed she was a God-ordained prophet named Noah and Abraham (source)
Fiphaza and her assistant Sisize Nokwali both claim to receive visions from God (source)
Nokwali claimed to have predicted Nelson Mandela's rise to power (source)

Murder

In 2003, eight bodies were discovered in shallow graves at the compound, including at least one child, resulting in the arrest of 12 individuals for concealing deaths (source, source)
Since members died after medical treatment was reportedly banned, the cult has been accused of murder (source)

Renunciation of Private Property

Some members donated their worldly possessions to the cult or "gave up everything" for the cult (source, source)
According to a former member, those who are employed by the cult donate all of their earnings to the group (source)
Members sold their assets, including furniture and livestock in anticipation of the apocalypse (source)
Those who lived in the compound gave up all their earthly possessions (source)
Members were told that a prophecy had been given commanding them to withdraw all their money and bring it to the church (source)
Everyone who joined wither quit their jobs or donated their entire salary to the cult (source)

Separation from World

Members refused to talk to the media (source)
Members were forbidden from working and quit their jobs in anticipation of an imminent apocalypse (source, source, source)
Members reportedly spent all of their time worshiping (source)
Members were told to stay away from everyone who was not in the cult (source)
Most of the members had no identity documents (source)
Members had no contact with family members who were not in the cult (source, source)
Members quit their jobs when they joined (see Renunciation of Private Property section above)

Shunning

A leader said that the only people who have left the cult are "those we were told by God are wrong" (source)

Unique Sexual Practices

Banned all sexual activity, even among married couples (source)
Married couples were not allowed to live together (source)

Other info:

Fiphaza believed family ties were unnecessary as individuals can only share their souls with God. Therefore, the cult split up families with mothers, fathers and their children all living in separate quarters (source)
Practiced extended fasts, lasting up to two weeks for members and up to thirty days for leaders (source)
Members were told to give money to the church so they could be cleansed of diseases and sin (source)
Members would beg for food from those outside the cult (source)
Nokulunga Fiphaza went on the run after corpses were discovered at the compound (source, source)
Families were not told that when their loved ones had died (source)
Believes it is a sin to mourn the dead (source)

Investigative Documentary on the Cult