Johannesburg – The Zion Christian Church (Z.C.C.) has exposed Michael Kgotso Serepo as an impostor who uses the name “Maditobane Barnabas Lekganyane”.
The Z.C.C. on Monday, 23 June 2025, chastised Serepo for falsely claiming to be the son of His Grace, The Right Reverend, Bishop Dr. BE Lekganyane, the leader of the church.
The Z.C.C. said Serepo and his followers were circulating misleading information on social media that their ‘Zion Creationist Church,’ was part of and or associated with one of the largest African-initiated churches.
The history of the Z.C.C. dates back to 1910.
It is estimated that the church has more than 10 million members.
Last year, on 10 June 2024, the Z.C.C. and its leader, His Grace, The Right Reverend, Bishop Dr. BE Lekganyane, obtained an interdict at the Pretoria High Court (under Case No. 021534/2022), restraining Serepo and members of his church from:
- Wearing the religious uniforms. Symbols, and artifacts of the Z.C.C., and or displaying such religious symbols and artifacts in their religious gatherings;
- Publicly proclaiming that they are members of the Z.C.C. and/or that they are associated with the Z.C.C.;
- Publicly proclaiming that Michael Kgotso Serepo is the son of His Grace, The Right Reverend, Bishop Dr BE Lekganyane;
“Serepo was also interdicted and restrained from calling himself Maditobane Barnabas Lekganyane and from using such names and surname to further his false and misleading claims that he is the son of His Grace, The Right Reverend, Bishop Dr BE Lekganyane,” the Z.C.C. said.
The Judge further ordered the Director General of Home Affairs to take reasonable and legal steps to cancel the ID card issued to Serepo with the name “Maditobane Barnabas Lekganyane”.
The Director General of Home Affairs complied with the Court Order and on 10 July 2024, Serepo was personally served with a letter of intention to cancel his ID document.
Serepo was given 14 days to say why his ID card with the names Maditobane Barnabas Lekganyane should not be cancelled as ordered by the Court.
The Director General’s letter of intention to cancel Serepo’s ID card with the names Maditobane Barnabas Lekganyane also stated that he submitted a false statement when applying for his second birth registration.
Serepo falsely claimed that Isaia Lekganyane was his biological father.
The Director General duly informed him that in so doing, he breached the provisions of Section 31(1)(b) of the Birth and Death Registration Act 51 of 1992, rendering him liable to a fine or imprisonment.
Serepo did not oppose or object to the decision of the Director General of Home Affairs to cancel his identity card with the name Maditobane Barnabas Lekganyane, in compliance with the Court Order of 10 June 2024, and for his breach of the provisions of that Act.
On 31 July 2024, the Department of Home Affairs altered its records and changed the name and surname from Maditobane Barnabas Lekganyane to Michael Kgotso Serepo.
The alterations were published on 28 March 2025 in the Government Gazette No. 52388, Government Notices No. 6050 and 6051 respectively.
The Court Order of 10 June 2024 was served on Serepo on 24 June 2024 to inform him of the outcome of the interdict application launched by the Z.C.C. and His Grace, The Right Reverend, Bishop Dr BE Lekganyane against him.
The Z.C.C. said despite Serepo’s knowledge of the interdict, the restraining order, and the legal consequences for non-compliance with a court order, he continues to circulate false information on Facebook.
The Z.C.C. alleged that Serepo was still calling himself “Maditobane Barnabas Lekganyane”, and claimed nothing had changed from the records of Home Affairs.
Serepo has also encouraged members of his Zion Creationist Church to wear the religious uniform, symbols, and artifacts of the Z.C.C.
Allegations are that Serepo urges his followers to continue displaying Z.C.C. insignia during their religious gatherings.
Serepo and his followers do this allegedly to bolster their false claim that their Zion Creationist Church is associated with the Z.C.C.
Earlier this month, on 5 June 2025, the Pretoria High Court directed the Sheriff of the Court and or his Deputy to read the Court Order of 10 June 2024 to the congregation of Zion Creationist Church and Serepo.
“When the Sheriff, through his Deputy, attempted to do so on 01 June 2025, he was obstructed and stopped by these members of the Zion Creationist Church to the pleasure of Serepo,” the Z.C.C. said.
“The Deputy Sheriff was further harassed and threatened by these members.
“As a result, he was prevented from entering the church where the congregation was singing.”
The Z.C.C. said it has instructed its attorneys to approach the High Court for appropriate relief against Serepo and members of his Zion Creationist Church.
Efforts to get comment from Serepo or his ‘Zion Creationist Church’ have so far not been successful.
However, Serepo posted a distress message on Facebook under the name “Maditobane Barnabas Lekganyane”.
