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SA teacher bludgeoned to death beatified by Pope
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South African school teacher Benedict Daswa, who was bludgeoned to death for resisting witchcraft, was beatified yesterday, becoming the first person from the southern African region to undergo the key step toward sainthood.
He was proclaimed 鈥渂lessed鈥 in an apostolic letter read on behalf of Pope Francis by Italian Cardinal Angelo Amato to some 30,000 people during mass in Tshitanini village, not far from Daswa鈥檚 house in South Africa鈥檚 northern Limpopo province.
鈥淲e grant that the venerable servant of God, Tshimangadzo Samuel Bendict Daswa, layman and family man,... a zealous catechist, all-round educator who gave heroic witness to the gospel, even to the shedding of blood, from now on will be called 鈥楤lessed鈥,鈥 said Amato.
The crowd applauded wildly and some blew traditional horns.
Daswa was beaten to death 25 years ago by fellow villagers after he refused to pay a sorcerer who promised to end destructive storms hammering the region.
First stoned by his assailants, Daswa ran to safety in a hut before being found by the mob and beaten dead with a stick.
His murderers then poured boiling water in his ears and nostrils 鈥 and all that happened on February 2, 1990 the day the apartheid regime announced it would release anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela.
鈥淲hile his executioners were killing him, Benedict was on his knees praying. He prayed until the last minute of his life,鈥 according to Daswa鈥檚 biography read during ceremony.
Virtually unknown when he died, Daswa鈥檚 fame grew throughout South Africa鈥檚 Catholic community, with villagers starting to commemorate the anniversary of his death. Following the beatification, his feasts shall be celebrated each year on February 1.
Around 8 percent of South Africa鈥檚 population is Catholic.
Pope Francis, who announced in January that Daswa would be beatified, paid tribute in his regular Sunday address to the faithful in St Peter鈥檚 square.
鈥淭oday in South Africa, Samuel Benedict Daswa, a father killed in 1990 barely 25 years ago for his faith in the gospel, has been beatified,鈥 the Argentinian pontiff said in Italian.
鈥淚n his life he always showed great consistency, courageously defending Christian views and rejecting worldly and pagan customs.鈥
South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa also attended the beatification ceremony, which came after a night vigil staged by hundreds.
Traditional performers from the local Venda people dressed in colorful striped outfits sang and danced ahead of the mass.
鈥淚t is a unique moment, I feel overwhelmed,鈥 said Tsholanang Koketso, 23, who travelled from the Limpopo provincial capital Polokwane to attend the mass.
鈥淲e always hear about saints in other countries but now we (will) have one in South Africa. It鈥檚 very nice.鈥
Father John Finn, who buried Daswa, described him as 鈥渁 man of incredible generosity.鈥
鈥淗e was always bringing people to hospitals, taking care of children and elders. He had a great value for education,鈥 Finn added.
The beatification comes less than three months ahead of Pope Francis鈥檚 first visit to Africa in a push to connect with the burgeoning Catholic population across the continent.
The Pontiff will be travelling to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic late in November.
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