South Africa is home to Africa’s largest drive for solar and renewable energy, allowing rural churches — which were forgotten in electrification of the last two decades — to finally light up on the cheap. “It’s the first time to…
South Africa’s matchmaking churches wildly popular, hope to stem gender violence
More than 6,000-worshippers from all over South Africa and nearby countries have gathered at Apostle Joshua Mohlala’s Shekinah Healing Ministries church premises in Cape Town, not for a spiritual service but to find partners. The best-known matchmaking church in South…
Alleged mastermind of Rwandan massacre inside church arrested 30 years later
Fulgence Kayishema — Africa’s most wanted man — was arrested in Cape Town, South Africa, five weeks ago after spending 30 years on the run. That one of the world’s biggest war-crimes suspects lived freely shines a spotlight on why…
South Africa’s already risky river baptisms now spreading cholera
A cholera outbreak in South Africa is more bad news for river baptisms. Baptist News Global previously documented how South Africa’s risky, informal baptisms conducted by unlicensed pastors have grown problematic due to mass causalities by drowning. Now, a cholera…
In South Africa; money marks churches, mosques as soft targets for armed robbery
It’s a shameless new trend, faith leaders say. It was not usual for armed criminals to storm faith services, rob churches and mosques in South Africa — until now. “There is no holy cow anymore,” said Pastor Drewmore Sikhosana, a…
As climate changes, South Africa’s river baptisms spell danger
Climate change is intensifying river flooding across South Africa. For indigenous Christian churches that conduct unlicensed, open-river baptisms, tragedies are mounting too. Nomusa Bandile lost a teenage daughter Dec. 7 when, during an open-river baptism by an unlicensed pastor, 14…
In South Africa, should the Anglican Church bless a new Zulu king?
In South Africa, a new Zulu king was crowned in October for the first time in 51 years — and Anglican bishops rituals to “bless” the new King have sparked furor. The 12 million Zulus are South Africa’s biggest ethnic…
As inflation hits, Africa’s largest indigenous church clings to a tea obsession
Global food inflation has not spared South Africa, but amidst the high prices, millions in Africa’s biggest indigenous church cling to a tea ritual obsession despite rising prices of ingredients. “It’s the tea of faith; a sip kicks off bad…
GenZ South Africans remix tech, African spiritualism and church
They are Gen-Z Black South Africans, highly educated, raised in typical “Christian homes,” but now flipping the script. Via aggressive use of Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, they’re re-inventing themselves as entrepreneurial “Afro-spiritualist” healers, fortune readers or dream interpreters. It’s all…