Archbishop of Bloemfontein; Apostolic Administrator of Keimoes-Upington
Archbishop-elect Zolile Peter Mpambani, S.C.I., was born on 20 February 1957, in Umlamli in the diocese of Aliwal. He gave his religious vows in the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonians) on 28 January 1982. He studied philosophy and theology at Saint Joseph’s Major Seminary in Cedara. He was ordained a priest on 25 April 1987. Since ordination he has held the following offices: parish vicar of the parish of Sterkspruit (1987-1990); parish priest in Burgerdorp (1990-1993); master of the pre-novitiate of the S.C.I. province (1994-1997); general counsellor for Africa and Madagascar of the Central Governance of his Institute in Rome (1998-2003); sabbatical year (2004-2005); master of the pre-novitiate and local superior of the community in Bethulie and director of the Dehonian House in Scottsville, Pitermartizburg (2005-2010); minister (along with the vicar general) in the parish of Sterkspruit, in the diocese of Aliwal (2011-2013); and provincial superior in the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Dehonian) of South Africa from February to May 2013. He was appointed as bishop of Kokstad on 6 May 2013, and received episcopal consecration the following 3 August. Within the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference he is responsible for formation, life and the lay apostolate.