Fr. Velaphi was born in Soweto near Johannesburg in South Africa on 13th July 1969. His parents were John Mopeli and Cecelia Mopeli. He first met the Passionists in Carletonville while still at school through a Vocations Workship in 1985. In 1989 he joined them and travelled to the Passionists in Ramotswa Botswana. 

Starting his studies for the priesthood he began his philosophy in Nairobi and completed these studies in St. Francis House of Studies Pretoria in 1991. Forest Hill was the next Passionist house in which he lived and did his novitiate year here under Fr. Patrick Sheridan C.P. First Profession Day was on 7th August 1993. Now he was to return to Nairobi to begin his Theology studies in Tangaza College. Fr. Velaphi was ordained a priest on 2nd May 1998 in the Parish of the Good Shepherd Soweto by Bishop Patrick Zithulele Mvemve (Bishop of Klerksdorp).

The Cathedral in Gaborone Botswana was Fr. Velaphi's first assignment. Here he spent nine months before going to South Africa to the Passionist parish of Saulsville Pretoria in December 1998. From here he came to Ireland this summer. He has just completed a Summer Course at St. Anselm’s in Margate, Kent. September is a holiday month for Fr. Velaphi in preparation for a year's course  in 'Human Development' beginning 1st October in St. Anselm’s.