Superior General of Mariannhill Missionaries Appointed Bishop in South Africa

Kokstad, 07 April, 2022 / 8:50 PM

Pope Francis has appointed the Superior General of the Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries (CMM) as the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kokstad in South Africa. 

The Wednesday, April 6 appointment of Mons. Thulani Victor Mbuyisa was published by the Holy See Press Office.  

Mons. Mbuyisa is expected to succeed Archbishop Zolile Peter Mpambani who was transferred to Bloemfontein Archdiocese in April 2020. 

The 65-year-old member of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart had been at the helm of Kokstad Diocese since his Episcopal Ordination in August 2013. 

Kokstad Diocese has been under the leadership of Fr. Lizo Nontshe as Diocesan Administrator. 

Mons. Mbuyisa who has been serving as CMM Superior General since October 2016 is to become the sixth Bishop of the South African Diocese.

Born in South Africa’s Province of KwaZulu-Natal in the Archdiocese of Durban in February 1973, Mons. Mbuyisa joined the Congregation of Mariannhill Missionaries in 1992.

He was ordained CMM Priest in March 2000 after completing his philosophy and theology studies at St. Joseph's Theological Institute of Cedara in the Archdiocese of Durban.

As a Priest, Mons. Mbuyisa has served in various capacities including Parish Vicar of St. Michael's Mission, Chaplain of Mangosuthu University of Technology and St. Francis College in Mariannhill.

The holder of a Licentiate in Canon Law from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, also served as Superior and formator at the Nivard House Formation House in Nairobi (2007-2010); Provincial Superior of CMM in East Africa, based in Nairobi (2010); Councilor and Secretary General (2010-2012), and Vicar General and Procurator of his Congregation (2012-2016), among other responsibilities. 

Once consecrated Bishop, Mons. Mbuyisa will be at the helm of the 17,635 square kilometer South African Diocese with a population of 89,220 Catholics, according to 2019 statistics. 

Kokstad Diocese was erected in July 1935 as the Prefecture Apostolic of Mount Currie. It was elevated to Vicariate Apostolic of Kokstad in July 1939 and ultimately, Kokstad Diocese in January 1952.

The Diocese is one of the six suffragan Dioceses in the Ecclesiastical Province of Durban.