South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile visited the KwaSizabantu mission on Easter Sunday. The former resistance fighter and current ANC leader commented on the allegations against the mission, which have been known for years. He appeared uninformed and ranted that allegations of abuse at KwaSizabantu might just be claims. He said, âIf there are any violations, we will find out.â The politician’s apparent ignorance and his expressions of sympathy for the mission suggest that certain deals have been made behind the scenes. He announced that the government wanted to enter into a partnership with the mission. He left open what form this would take and how it would be structured. This raises the question: is a partnership between the ANC and KSB in the pipeline? It could bring strategic and/or financial advantages for both sides.
The Citizen reports on Mashatile’s visit and his statements, which have since been heavily criticised on social media:
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has seemingly defended his visit to the KwaSizabantu Mission, a church that has previously garnered negative attention.Mashatile attended the non-denominational church missionâs Easter service on Sunday, accompanied by his wife and ANC provincial leaders in KwaMaphumulo in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
During his visit, he also laid a wreath at the grave of the missionâs founder, Erlo Stegen, who died in September 2023.
Mashatile visits KwaSizabantu Mission for Easter
Addressing the congregation during the Sunday service, Mashatile shared how he came to learn about KwaSizabantu through Stegenâs daughters.The deputy president recalled overhearing them speaking fluent isiZulu at a funeral in Gauteng.
âAt that funeral service, I was together with my wife and they told me âwe are from KwaSizabantuâ. They started relating the story that their father is a pastor.
âThey explained clearly that it is their father, Reverend Stegen, who actually started this place and explained all the nitty-gritties around that,â Mashatile said.
Praise for the missionâs work
Speaking to the media following the service, Mashatile praised the missionâs community development efforts across the province.
âI was invited to KZN and I decided to come to KwaSizabantu because Iâve heard about them. I was particularly moved about what they are doing,â the deputy president said.
He revealed that government was looking to partner with KwaSizabantu.
âWe came to worship with them, but also to see the tremendous work that they are doing in these communities, which is work that we think should be replicated where people can help themselves because often people sit in areas like this [where] thereâs water, [and] arable land, but they donât till their land [and] they donât plant,â Mashatile said.
âI think the vision of umfundisi Stegen is something that really must be pursued.
âWe have committed the national government, provincial, local government, and our organisation [ANC], weâre going to work with them in partnership to be able to do more of what theyâve started here.â
Mashatile addresses KwaSizabantuâs controversy
Mashatile also reiterated his government-mandated role of engaging with churches and forming collaborative efforts. âI have been given a responsibility by the president to work with the priests, to work with churches as part of my responsibility in government.
âWe believe that the church and the government must work in partnership.â
âAllegations are just allegationsâ
He commented on the allegations of human rights abuses linked to the mission.
âIf there are any violations, weâll find out. You know, sometimes allegations are just allegations.
âWhen we work with them, if thereâs anything that we think is [not] right, we will be able to correct that because for me, the important thing is to see the magnitude of people who are benefiting from a vision.â
KwaSizabantu exposé
KwaSizabantu came under public scrutiny following a 2020 exposé detailing several allegations including rape.
The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) launched a probe, which found incidents of rape, corporal punishment, and virginity testing.
The mission at the time acknowledged that one individual was serving jail time for rape, which was confirmed by KZN police.
In its report released in July 2023, the CRL Rights Commission recommended that any unlawful religious practices, as well as allegations of rape, assault, corruption, murder or money laundering, be formally reported to law enforcement authorities.
Beyond its religious mandate, KwaSizabantu also has a significant business presence.
It owns the well-known aQuellé bottled water brand and supplies fresh produce to major retailers.