OPINION | Politicians must not be allowed to address congregants #Elections2024

In the lead up to South Africa’s national elections in 2019 our church had a tent crusade in Orange Farm where Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi came to give a speech. I still remember that day very clearly. Dr Ndlozi took to the pulpit and started telling congregants that the EFF is red and it symbolises the blood of Jesus Christ.

On the same week President Cyril Ramaphosa was scheduled to visit three churches. His deputy at the time, David Mabuza, was scheduled to attend the Easter Sunday Pilgrimage at Moria, Limpopo.

South Africa is set to hold its national elections somewhere later this year. The Former President Jacob Zuma has already paid a visit to Shembe's Nazareth Baptist Church in Ndwendwe some few weeks ago. A week before that the ANC NEC members visited churches throughout South Africa as part of their build up activities as they garner support for the elections.

While it is normal for churches to open their doors for politicians to address congregants in the lead up to the elections i personally think that church leaders need to consider carefully how to navigate this political terrain. Before church leaders call on or accept requests from politicians to speak to their congregations they must first consider the confusion that such an engagement would bring to their church. 

We believe that politicians visiting our churches should be restricted from speaking to congregants in the same way the public is restricted to silence during palamentary sessions in Cape Town. Churches are not a place to campaign. We do not mind praying for political leaders but they cannot campaign inside our churches. 

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