A sex scandal involving a church leader considered a pillar of moral virtue has rocked the His People Christian Church in Goodwood, which strongly backs traditional family values.
The shocked congregation has heard a videotaped confession by ex-pastor Paul Daniel, 45, of his adultery with two young women parishioners over a 13-month period.
And Daniel also admitted he had covered the affairs up and had lied to his flock by allowing denials of any such conduct.
The women, in their early 20s, were both single.
Daniel quit the ministry last November citing ill health, and left to settle in the United States in January with his wife Jenny and their four children.
His People is the largest church congregation in the Western Cape.
A conservative evangelical church, it upholds traditional family values and takes a fundamentalist stand on such issues as homosexuality and abortion. Daniel had headed the church in the Western Cape for 14 years.
Rumours of the scandal surfaced among Daniel's congregation last in 2002, but were denied.
In the videotape he asks for forgiveness from the congregation, and from the leadership of the church.
His People spokesperson Errol Naidoo said Daniel had left the ministry after becoming ill towards the end of last year.
Daniel and his family, originally from Bellville, were subsequently moved to the US by the Apostolic Board of Morningstar International, the international organisation of churches of which His People is a member.
Naidoo said news of the adultery had been greeted with "sadness and regret".
Since the family's move to the US, the Daniels had been undergoing professional counselling, he said.
It was during these sessions that Daniel had admitted his relationships with the two young women.
Naidoo said that by "these transgressions", Daniel had disqualified himself from the ministry, and would not be returning to His People.
"Due to ill-health, Paul Daniel stepped down from ministry during November 2002 at the request of the church's Cape Town leadership."
After the confession at the counselling session, the Apostolic Board recommended he also confess to his former congregation. It was done via videotape because he was still too ill to appear, Naidoo said.
Gareth Stead, who has been the senior pastor at His People since Daniel's departure, said the church was providing "spiritual counselling to the families concerned".
While it was deeply distressing that Daniel had chosen to behave in "this unbiblical manner", the church leadership encouraged the congregation to forgive him and those involved, and to pray for "their spiritual rehabilitation".
"This situation has served as an object lesson to all Christians for the need to live their lives according to Biblical standards," Naidoo said.
A member of the His People congregation said the faithful had been "devastated" by the Daniel video.
"He was a bastion of faith, of strength. He preached to us in a big, booming voice," said the congregant, who did not wish to be named.
"As our pastor, he led everyone through stringent courtship and dating procedures. He was an icon of moral upstanding and all things Christian.
"If he can be wooed by the Devil himself, then how can we stop it from happening to us?"