John SIKWEBU was born in the Peddie district about 70 years ago. His conversion from heathenism to Christianity was striking, unmistakable and thorough. For about 40 years afterwards he served his Master, Christ, with steadfast devotion, first as an Evangelist and teacher, then as a Minister.

In the year 1871 he was appointed to the Amatole Basin Circuit. After 3 years he was moved to Grahamstown, where he spent 5 years; for one year he was stationed at Kingwilliamstown, after which he returned for 3 years to his first Circuit, thus spending 12 years of his life in the Ministry. The remaining 20 years of his life were spent as a supernumerary, partly at Tsomo and partly in his native district at Tuku. It is a pathetic fact that after 19 years of supernumerary, he died in effect, though not technically, in the full work. At the conference of 1902 it was thought that his strength warranted the Tuku Circuit appointment being left unfilled on the understanding  that he , though a supernumerary, would be able to take charge of the Circuit under the Superintendent. But after two quarters it was evident that his strength was unequal to the task. However he held on doggedly, and died the day his accessor arrived in the district. John SIKWEBU’s character was a witness for Christ, the value of which is impossible to estimate.

Alike among Europeans and all classes of Natives he was recognised as a true man and a real christian. As the head of a large family he was strict almost to severity, but he was pre-eminently wise in his decisions, so that those on whom he enforced his will rarely regretted their obedience. His name is, both to the narrower circle of his family and the wider circle of the Church, a precious legacy of b;lessing and encouragement.

From: Minutes of Wesleyan Methodist Conference 1904 Pages 8 & 9