Well-known Limpopo cleric Dr Tshenuwani Farisani, who faced many hardships during the past political order, collapsed and fainted and had to be whisked away to the doctor on Monday, after seeing his church of many years gutted by fire.

The Lutheran Church at Beuster in Maungani outside Thohoyandou is synonymous with the liberation struggle as Farisani and other pastors in the church waged a war against the oppressive government from the pulpit. During the apartheid years, many people regarded the church as a safe haven and they also referred to it as the "Liberation Church, that will play an important role to free the people".

When Farisani went to the scene, he collapsed and fainted after seeing what had happened.

The cleric, who is now an MP based in Cape Town, was later treated by his lifelong medico and confidante, Dr Steven Ramasuvha, in Makwarela outside Sibasa and discharged, but not before he was bandaged on the right leg.

When approached for comment , Farisani said: ”When I walked from the director´s house 100m away to the centre, it was like I was in a dream. When I was 25 metres away, I could not absorb it and collapsed.” Farisani added that he had received many shocking incidents in his life, but it was the first time that he had collapsed. He said he could not stand seeing the house of God reduced to ashes.

He said the building was very significant for its role in the liberation struggle, adding that it was the first church in the Vhembe region established by missionaries in 1872. “This place played a big role in the liberation struggle, “ said Farisani before adding, “Many conferences, political or religious meetings were held here.” He said many people who left the country to join the liberation war and those who returned passed through the church. “Some of us were arrested at this church for political reasons,” said Farisani.

He said he did not have any suspicion where the fire might have come from. “Police are investigating anything from arson to an electric fault,” he said. He said, however, that it was surprising as there was no electricity at the church at the time. “We had a big function here only yesterday, but we did not have electricity and is very surprising as to how the building could have caught fire. If it is the work of a person, we urge him to come forward and confess to the church and the police before the intervention of the Lord. We know the truth will come out."

Farisani is deputy-director of the centre, but is no no longer the pastor of the church after being a pastor for 18 years. He now heads the Thohoyandou-Malamulele Parish.

A spokesperson for the Limpopo police in Vhembe, Captain Mashudu Malelo, said they were investigating a case of arson. He urged members of the community who might have information about the incident to come to the fore and assist the police.