Kwasizabantu (also KwaSizabantu, Kwa Sizabantu, KSB), meaning "where we help people", is a non-denominational church mission originating in South Africa, which has grown to include centres in several countries.[1] The mission is affiliated with a primary and secondary school, Domino Service School, and a teacher-training college, Cedar International Academy.[2]
History edit
Kwasizabantu Mission was founded in 1970 by Erlo Hartwig Stegen (1935–2023).[3] Stegen had been a travelling evangelist among the Zulu population of Natal since the 1950s up to 1970. In 1966–67, Stegen's efforts culminated in a revival, accompanied by mass conversions and miraculous healings. In 1970, its base was established at a place called KwaSizabantu (Zulu for "the place of help for people," or "the place where people are helped"). This became the ministry's eponym.
This mission station is situated on a farm of 550 hectares between Greytown and KwaDukuza (also known as Stanger) in KwaZulu-Natal, and is currently one of the largest and most successful mission stations in Africa.[4] The Mission has a few non-profit initiatives, as well as some successful commercial enterprises which fund its activities.
One of the non-profit initiatives is Radio Khwezi, a community radio broadcasting station which started broadcasting in 1995.[5] Radio Khwezi is available in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region on FM 90.5 and 107.7 and is available worldwide through live streaming on the Internet. Radio Khwezi broadcasts a variety of programs aimed at informing and edifying the community. The Sunday services of Kwasizabantu Mission are broadcast live from 11h00 South African time.
On 12 August 2006, Kwasizabantu Mission officially opened the Emseni Care Centre (meaning "place of grace"). The Emseni Care Centre provides free care and counselling to HIV and AIDS patients. Some of the patients have allegedly fully recovered and are HIV free today.[6]
The KwaSizabantu Mission houses the water factory aQuellé[7] and has 8.5 hectares of advanced greenhouses where sweet peppers are grown hydroponically.[8] KwaSizabantu Mission also has an extensive avocado farming enterprise. The produce is packaged in a packaging facility on the mission station for Woolworths, Checkers, Spar and other local markets.[9] Some of the produce is exported. It also produces dairy products which are marketed through their Bonlé brand.[10] They also have a Saverite supermarket on the premises with its own bakery and deli. The profit of the different enterprises is used to help those in need and to further the aims of the Mission.
The director of the KwaSizabantu Mission in Kranskop, the Reverend Erlo Hartwig Stegen, was named co-recipient of a major international award — the Robert W. Pierce Award for Christian Service — by World Vision International on 9 December 2007.[11] In 2013 Rev EH Stegen was awarded the Chancellor's Medal by the North-West University (NWU) for his humanitarian work among poor rural communities.
Controversy edit
In September 2020, News24 released an exposé alleging that Kwasizabantu is a cult with allegations from former members of abuse—including rape.[12] This sparked an official, ongoing probe by KwaZulu-Natal local authorities.[13] As a result several South African vendors temporarily stopped selling the mission owned bottled water, aQuellé.[14] But the Cultural Religious and Linguistic (CRL) committee as well as an Independent Panel did not find Kwasisabantu Mission to be a cult. In addition, Potgieter published a case study 'A journey to the truth: the case of KwaSizabantu Mission' and found that ex-members weaponised the media against the Mission.Potgieter also points out various red flags in unethical journalism of News24.
References edit
- ^ "KwaSizabantu Mission". KwaSizabantu Mission.
- ^ "Hermannsburg happenings". News24. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "KwaSizabantu founder Erlo Stegen has died". news24. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Kwasizabantu – JOY!".
- ^ "Radio Khwezi".
- ^ "Articles by or about Kwasizabantu Mission". KwaSizabantu Mission. 20 March 2014.
- ^ "aQuellé".
- ^ "Increased crop production all year round in perfect climate conditions - Munters". munters.com.
- ^ "Kwasizabantu - the place where people are helped". 23 July 2014.
- ^ "Bonle". bonle.co.za.
- ^ "Witness". News24. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Want to stop a cult? Then don't buy aQuellé bottled water". News24.
- ^ Mkhize, Nothando (22 September 2020). "KZN authorities confirm probe into KwaSizabantu Mission". East Coast Radio. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ Ramalepe, Phumi (22 September 2020). "KwaSizabantu 'cult': Woolworths halts buying from supplier, offers to help authorities". Business Insider SA. Business Insider. Retrieved 22 September 2020.