Background
Sitembele was born in Ngcele, Tsolo, Transkei in 1952. His mother was Cynthia Sylvia Nozipho Dlwati and his father Joab Cornelius Mhlangenqaba Mzamane who was an agriculturalist.
Sitembele was born in Ngcele, Tsolo, Transkei in 1952. His mother was Cynthia Sylvia Nozipho Dlwati and his father Joab Cornelius Mhlangenqaba Mzamane who was an agriculturalist.
He is the current Bishop of Mthatha, and although the first bishop to bear that title, he is the 10th incumbent, since the bishopric was previously known as Street John"son After receiving a Diploma in Theology from Saint Bede’s College in Mthatha, Sitembele was ordained to the Diaconate in December 1975 and the Priesthood in December 1977. While Priest in Charge of Saint Barnabas Manzana, he completed a Bachelor of Theology degree from the University of South Africa.
In 1988 he was appointed Rector of Saint Peter’s, Butterworth, Eastern Cape and Archdeacon and served in that position for two years before being appointed Dean of Street John"s Cathedral, Mthatha.
While serving as Dean, he completed an Honours Bachelor from the University of the Free State (graduating cum laude), an Master of Arts from the University of the Free State, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Pretoria. In 2013 he received a Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree, jure dignitatis from Huron University College.
In 2000, Sitembele was elected Bishop of the Diocese of Saint John’son During his episcopacy the number of parishes grew so greatly that Mzamane drafted plans to split the area with a new episcopal see centred at Ngcobo.
The new Diocese of Mbhashe was established on 16 December 2010 out of part of the Diocese of Mthatha.
A former Dean of the diocese’s cathedral Mzamane subscribes to the orthodox Anglican stance on homosexuality, and is opposed to the blessing of same-sex relationships.