Kokstad (Diocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Thulani Victor Mbuyisa, C.M.M., Bishop

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 11 January 1951
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Durban
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: South Africa
Square Kilometers: 17,635 (6,811 Square Miles)
Description: Bizana, Flagstaff, Lusikisiki, Port St John on the left bank of the Umzimvubu River, Mount Ayliff, Mount Frere, Tabankulu, Mount Currie, and Matatiele south of the Kenegha River
Official Web Site: https://kokstaddiocese.org
Mailing Address: Bishop's House, P.O. Box 65, 107 Hope St., Kokstad 4700, Natal, South Africa
Telephone: (039)727.2239
Fax: 727.1150

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Mount Currie
- Latin Name: de Mount Currie
- Erected: 8 April 1935
- Country: South Africa
Vicariate Apostolic of Kokstad
- Latin Name: Kokstadensis
- Elevated: 11 July 1939
- Vicariate
- Country: South Africa

Past and Present Ordinaries

Blasius Sigibald Kurz, O.F.M. † (17 Jul 1935 Appointed - 21 May 1948 Appointed, Prefect of Lingling [Yungchow])
John Evangelist McBride, O.F.M. † (21 Apr 1949 Appointed - 15 May 1978 Retired)
Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M. (29 Nov 1980 Appointed - 29 Mar 1992 Appointed, Archbishop of Durban)
William Matthew Slattery, O.F.M. (17 Nov 1993 Appointed - 23 Dec 2010 Appointed, Archbishop of Pretoria)
Zolile Peter Mpambani, S.C.I. (6 May 2013 Appointed - 1 Apr 2020 Appointed, Archbishop of Bloemfontein)
Thulani Victor Mbuyisa, C.M.M. (6 Apr 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Mount Currie
8 April 1935	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Mariannhill (Bizana, Flagstaff, Lusikisiki, Mount Ayliff, Mount Frere, Tabankulu, Mount Currie, and part of Matatiele)	Prefecture Apostolic of Mount Currie (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Kokstad
11 July 1939	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Mount Currie	Vicariate Apostolic of Kokstad
Diocese of Kokstad
11 January 1951	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Kokstad	Diocese of Kokstad

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Kokstad

1950 15,073 370,000 4.1% 23 23 655 73 12 ap1951

Diocese of Kokstad

1970 39,467 500,000 7.9% 22 22 1,793 26 78 10 ap1971

1980 44,372 925,000 4.8% 19 19 2,335 27 47 13 ap1981

1990 48,740 1,009,840 4.8% 15 15 3,249 20 30 13 ap1991

1999 66,781 1,293,000 5.2% 4 17 21 3,180 22 32 15 ap2000

2000 66,000 1,200,000 5.5% 5 12 17 3,882 18 34 15 ap2001

2001 68,100 1,300,000 5.2% 6 11 17 4,005 17 37 15 ap2002

2002 71,393 1,300,000 5.5% 6 11 17 4,199 17 37 15 ap2003

2003 71,500 1,300,000 5.5% 8 10 18 3,972 16 35 15 ap2004

2004 72,000 1,300,000 5.5% 8 10 18 4,000 16 36 15 ap2005

2006 74,401 1,710,000 4.4% 9 13 22 3,381 17 42 15 ap2007

2013 88,200 1,847,000 4.8% 9 1 10 8,820 4 37 16 ap2014

2016 85,500 1,918,424 4.5% 9 7 16 5,343 1 9 30 16 ap2017

2019 89,220 2,001,975 4.5% 14 7 21 4,248 7 36 16 ap2020

2021 87,900 1,972,680 4.5% 15 5 20 4,395 5 30 16 ap2022

2023 89,900 2,013,000 4.5% 17 5 22 4,086 5 32 16 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Kokstad
1950	15,073	370,000	4.1%		23	23	655			73	12	ap1951
Diocese of Kokstad
1970	39,467	500,000	7.9%		22	22	1,793		26	78	10	ap1971
1980	44,372	925,000	4.8%		19	19	2,335		27	47	13	ap1981
1990	48,740	1,009,840	4.8%		15	15	3,249		20	30	13	ap1991
1999	66,781	1,293,000	5.2%	4	17	21	3,180		22	32	15	ap2000
2000	66,000	1,200,000	5.5%	5	12	17	3,882		18	34	15	ap2001
2001	68,100	1,300,000	5.2%	6	11	17	4,005		17	37	15	ap2002
2002	71,393	1,300,000	5.5%	6	11	17	4,199		17	37	15	ap2003
2003	71,500	1,300,000	5.5%	8	10	18	3,972		16	35	15	ap2004
2004	72,000	1,300,000	5.5%	8	10	18	4,000		16	36	15	ap2005
2006	74,401	1,710,000	4.4%	9	13	22	3,381		17	42	15	ap2007
2013	88,200	1,847,000	4.8%	9	1	10	8,820		4	37	16	ap2014
2016	85,500	1,918,424	4.5%	9	7	16	5,343	1	9	30	16	ap2017
2019	89,220	2,001,975	4.5%	14	7	21	4,248		7	36	16	ap2020
2021	87,900	1,972,680	4.5%	15	5	20	4,395		5	30	16	ap2022
2023	89,900	2,013,000	4.5%	17	5	22	4,086		5	32	16	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Thulani Victor Mbuyisa, C.M.M. (Bishop: 6 Apr 2022 - )
Zolile Peter Mpambani, S.C.I. (Bishop: 6 May 2013 to 1 Apr 2020)
Wilfrid Fox Napier, O.F.M. (Apostolic Administrator: 15 May 1978; Bishop: 29 Nov 1980 to 29 Mar 1992)
William Matthew Slattery, O.F.M. (Bishop: 17 Nov 1993 to 23 Dec 2010)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Blasius Sigibald Kurz, O.F.M. † (Prefect: 17 Jul 1935; Vicar Apostolic: 11 Jul 1939 to 21 May 1948)
John Evangelist McBride, O.F.M. † (Vicar Apostolic: 21 Apr 1949; Bishop: 11 Jan 1951 to 15 May 1978)

Source(s)

Prefecture Apostolic of Mount Currie
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 28, Page 91, and Page 92
Vicariate Apostolic of Kokstad
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 32, Page 18, and Page 19
Diocese of Kokstad
- Acta Apostolicæ Sedis, Volume 43, Page 257, to Page 263

About Catholic-Hierarchy

Terminology/Site Help

Copyright David M. Cheney, 1996-2025
Code: web_d, v3.4.9, 15 Sep 2024; Data: 28 Apr 2025

✠

Diocese of Kokstad

Dioecesis Kokstadensis