Mqanduli was founded at the same as Elliotdale, between 1878 and 1882; the first magistrate was a missionary, J.H. Scott. As neither the village was far from Mthatha, the Oblate Fathers visited the places and districts quite regularly; at Mqanduli they acquired erf 95 on the 30^th of September 1910. In Elliotdale district lived a good number of Catholics; the lawlors of Madwaleni, the Woods at Hobeni, the Wilds at Elliotdale. The vast district was a matter of concern for Bishop Hanisch; he paid a visit to the magistrate of Elliotdale on the 11^th of February 1936 and discussed the possibilities of launching some Catholic outstations or schools in the region. In 1937 a school was started in the house in Mqanduli, and in August 1941 a catechist was installed who had to serve Mqanduli, Nqwara and Zimbane. The Bishop also had in mind to open a clinic in Elliotdale; in March 1963 the Ursuline Sisters Theodora and Cecilia settled in the spacious house using it as a convent and clinic. In 1973/74 a presbytery was built next to the Church.

When Fr. Peter Grand took over the pastoral care of the Elliotdale and Mqanduli Mission he tried his utmost to get CPS sisters since the Ursuline sisters had left the area in 1974 when the clinics were taken over by the Transkei Government. The clinic in the Mission was given up.

In February 1983 2 CPS sisters came to Elliotdale:  Sr. Celeste Sithole and Sr. Jerome Ngcobo. At that time there were 8 Outstations, some in private homes, with about 300 Catholics. Within a few months the sisters were already preparing 100 Catechumens to become Catholics. A little church was built in 1984 at Ngcwanguba, a promising community.

In 1986 Sr. Gemma Belebesi, CPS, joined the Elliotdale Mission. She was most influential to get the women of the area involved in self-help projects. Their main project was called Phakamisisizwe. They were taught about fowls, pigs, gardens, orchards, bakery and needle work like knitting, sewing and crocheting.

The terrible drought in 1992 made Sr. Gemma even try her hand in irrigation work.

From 4 to 6 October 1993 Sr. Gemma took part in a workshop ORAP:  Organisation Rural African Progress in Zimbabwe. This course gave her additional tools to continue with developmental work. The Parish of Brig, Switzerland where Sr. Gemma was involved in a Mission Outreach Programme for three years donated a tractor.

Unfortunately, with the departure of the sisters from Elliotdale most of the projects discontinued.

Of the 8 places where there was a church site or a small community gathering in a private house only one Outstation is left. Ngcwanguba which was once a thriving community was sold and given to another church in 2015. The Parish is fighting for its survival. If one looks at the list of Parish priests one notices that within the last 40 years there were 15 priests serving in Elliotdale. That means that every 2 years a new priest arrived. Because of the frequent changes of priests Sr. Josepha, an Ursuline sister, was stationed in Elliotdale to keep the place, the garden and the community together from about 2004 until 2011. The number of Catholics also continuously declined from year to year.

For More information on this parish please refer to:
1. Transkei For Christ by Fr Marcel Dischl CMM, copyright 1982
2. Chronicle of Mthatha Diocese by Fr. Winfried Egler of 2020

1 Fr. Sigisbert Holenstein C.M.M.: April 1963 – 1979

2 Fr. Andrew Heier C.M.M.: 1979 – 1980

3 Fr. Dick O’Riordan: 1980 – 1981

4 Fr. Peter Grand C.M.M.: 1982 – 1983

5 Fr. Juan Viejo C.M.M.: 1983 – 1986

6 Fr. Joseph Nogonyothi: 1987 – 1988

7 Fr. Aloisius Blonigen C.M.M.: 1988 – 1989

8 Fr. Bernhard Dreier C.M.M.: 1989 – 1991

9 Fr. Roman Zurbriggen C.M.M.: 1991 – 2002

10 Fr. Patrick Mbongwe: 2002 – 2004

11 Fr. Mafu Ponya C.M.M.: 2005 – 2006

12 Fr. John Chikadi C.M.M.: 2006 – 2007

13 Fr. Stefan Mandl C.M.M.: 2008 – 2011

15 Fr. Gerard Tafuma: 2014 – 2019

16 Fr. Faustin Mapwar C.M.M.: 2019 – 2021

17 Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, assisted by Fr Wencesslaus Wangila C.M.M.: 2021 –

Priest Incharge: Fr. Wencesslaus Wangila
CellPhone: 072 179 9312
Email: stwinslaus@gmail.com

Address
11 – 12 Main Road
Elliotdale
5070

Postal Address
P.O. Box 8
Elliotdale
5070