Remarks by Deputy President Paulus Shipokosa Mashatile during the St John's Apostolic Faith Mission Annual Commemoration of its past leaders, Katlehong, Gauteng

Programme Director;
Lady Archbishop Professor Maraga;
The elders and the entire leadership of the church and supporters of the work of God;
Maloko a kereke, ya St. John;
Kgotso;

Ke rata ho u lumelisa ka lebitso la Jesu Kreste, hlooho ea kereke, ea mothofalitseng tlhaloso e hloekileng ea khotso, lerato le boitelo.

It is with great pleasure that I stand here today on this auspicious occasion to commemorate the lives and legacy of our remarkable leaders and prophets, who have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on our hearts and souls.

We are here today to celebrate with you the founding leaders of this great church, Mme Arch Bishop Christina Nku, and the late leaders and prophets such as Dr. P. J. Masango, Lady Archbishop Annah Masango, and Dr. J. B. Maraga. We remember their contribution to the betterment of our society, which will forever be a part of our history.

I should mention that this is not my first time attending this service, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to revisit and participate in this ceremony once again.

As someone also raised in the church, I fully understand the significance of this occasion because, as the book of 1st Thessalonians 5:12–13 says, “Dear brothers and sisters, honour those who are your leaders in the Lord's work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other.”

Ever since Prophetess Christinah Nku established the St. John's Apostolic Faith Mission church in Evaton in 1938, we have observed the profound ability of the church of God to bring about change, thanks to the diligent leaders who have dedicated their time to improving the lives of others.

We give thanks to God that He has given you the fortitude to expand the church's reach throughout South Africa and the SADC region. This growth is a direct result of strong leadership, the unwavering dedication of members to the church's vision, and the divine guidance received.

I know that leading a church is not an easy undertaking. In the spiritual sense, you serve the Lord while serving your people. You have to bear the yolk and troubles of other people. You stand in the gap for those who are in despair.

I believe you can attest that the leaders of this church are indeed good shepherds; they have a thorough understanding of God's work and have provided invaluable support throughout your spiritual journey as a congregation.

Therefore, now is a good opportunity to reaffirm our dedication to the teachings of love, compassion, and faith that these revered figures have passed down to us.

In the face of a changing world and new challenges, let us draw inspiration from the teachings of our past leaders to continue our mission of service and love. It is our responsibility to carry the torch forward and ensure that the flame of faith and compassion remains alive and vibrant within our communities.

Working together with you as the church, we will build strong families and communities based on the good values of care, respect, humility, discipline, and service to humanity.

Let us remember that our actions and choices carry weight and can make a difference in the lives of others. Therefore, as the Bible has commended, pray for us as leaders of the country to grow in knowledge and wisdom in this journey of nation building.

Brethren,

This year, we mark the 30th anniversary of our freedom and acknowledge the role that the church played during the dark times of our history. Despite being a target of the apartheid regime, it provided shelter for many of our political leaders.

On behalf of the ANC-led Government, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your involvement during apartheid and your continued support in the modern world to ensure our country's peace, growth, and development.

Because of your contribution to the struggle, today we have something to be thankful for which is the achieved democratic freedom, which includes the freedom to practise any religion without fear of persecution.

Three decades later, South Africa is in a better place than it was. I understand, however, that many would rather draw attention to a select few drawbacks out of a multitude of positive benefits.

We acknowledge that the country has not achieved its desired goals, including economic freedom and addressing inequalities. The government is working to eliminate corruption in State organs through reforms recommended by the Zondo Commission among other things.

The Government has made significant progress in addressing these issues, and the church is encouraged to support us on this path. Our country has the potential to achieve economic freedom and create a safer society if it remains resilient and positive, avoiding challenges that may hinder progress.

Brethren,

Regardless of the many challenges that we have faced during the apartheid regime, the church has always stood and preached a message of peace. This is also my favourite phrase that the church members use when they greet one another, and I am happy that you have chosen it as the theme for this celebration.

Several years ago, I read a journal that defined peace as the absence of violence and turmoil; peace as a genuine relationship with God; peace as a constructive interaction between people; peace as an individual virtue of the state, such as tranquillity or serenity; and lastly, peace as part of the greeting.

The theme of peace is therefore particularly relevant for the country during this year's National General Elections, which will usher in the Seventh Administration. I believe that it is because of your prayers that we have held peaceful, free, and fair elections since the dawn of democracy without any claim of electoral fraud.

Allow me to emphasise that those who are spreading claims of electoral interference have no national interest at heart. They are instilling fear and doubt in our people, which might have dire consequences for our democracy.

We urge the church to continue praying for a peaceful election and to encourage one another to go out in numbers to vote. Today, the IEC is holding the last day of the final voter registration weekend. I call those who have not registered or verified their details to do so after the church service.

Remember, not voting is a form of voting, as it will influence the outcome. We need to take responsibility for our actions as well as our lack of actions.

Brethren,

As a church, you must never sit back and watch from a distance when you can guide us in how to deal with the various social ills we are facing. As a Government, we expect the church to step up when we err and show the right direction.

Further, we encourage the church, just as they did during apartheid, to engage in a collaborative effort with us to effectively tackle any societal difficulties.

We want the church to walk side by side with us as we fight gender-based violence in our communities, substance abuse among the youth, criminal activities, inequalities, and poverty. We urge you to continue collaborating with government entities, non-profit organisations, and international bodies to address these challenges.

As I conclude, allow me to remind you that the ANC-led Government has always valued interaction with faith communities because its history and moral vision are rooted in the religious sector. When the ANC was formed, we sang a song, Lizalise idinga lakho Thixo wenyaniso (God of truth fulfil your promise). 

Our founding fathers prayed to God and asked him to be with us in this journey of nation building. We will not leave this tradition of our movement. We will follow the footsteps of Rev Langalibalele Dube, Oliver Tambo, Albert Luthuli, Nelson Mandela, Charlotte Maxeke, and Rev. Henry Reed Ngcayiya, the organisation's first chaplain general.

Let us continue to fortify our bond with the shared objective of fostering an improved life for all our citizens. Let us become the catalyst for the transformation that our people urgently desire. May we aspire to mirror the unwavering commitment and moral character demonstrated by our past leaders.

I thank you.