Father Mbokazi had been a priest in the diocese for six years.

"It was terrible for the parishioners, who had been waiting for him to come and say Mass," Bishop Kumalo told Catholic News Service. He said parishioners could see the priest's car outside his home, so they guessed he was inside.

The house had been ransacked and money was missing, but nothing else of value was stolen, such as the television or computer, Bishop Kumalo said.

Because the house did not appear to have been broken into, it is likely that Father Mbokazi knew his attackers, the bishop said.

The motive for the murder is unknown, but police are "doing a thorough investigation," Bishop Kumalo said.

Noting that several priests have been murdered across South Africa in the past few years, Bishop Kumalo said the fact that priests are known not to carry guns makes them vulnerable.

Also, "the nature of the job -- to serve people, particularly the poor -- makes us vulnerable. We never know who the Judas is going to be," he said.

While South Africans need to look at "why we are such a violent society," the church does not need to take extra precautions to keep priests safe, Bishop Kumalo said.

"The one we follow was as vulnerable as we are," he said.