Remarks by Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile at the Twelve Apostles Church in Christ (TACC) International Thanksgiving Day celebration, East London

Chief Apostle, Professor Caesar Nongqunga;
Mr. Austin Nongqunga, President of the Church
The Church Presidency
Premier of the Eastern Cape, Honourable  Mr Oscar Mabuyane;
uKumkani uNdlovuyesizwe nabanye okukmkani neenkosi ezikhoyo
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Dlomo;
Members of Parliament Mr. Vuyo Zungula and Mrs Marawu;
Religious Leaders present;
Fellow congregants;
Siyanibulisa kule nkonzo ebaluleke kangaka yombulelo.
 
I was glad when they said, “Let us go to the house of the LORD”. I am certain that most of you are familiar with these holy words from the holy book of Psalm 122:1.
 
So, I, too, was overwhelmed with joy when Chief Apostle Professor Caesar Nongqunga invited me and my wife to participate in this international Thanksgiving ceremony. When I spoke to you on the phone the other day, I felt a connection with you, I am pleased that you have given me an opportunity to come and worship with you and the members of the Twelve Apostle Church of Christ.
 
Chief Apostle, I am here as a child of a Bishop and a Sunday school teacher. I grew up in Church. I am also here because I belong to an organisation formed by Priests, Apostles, the Church and the Traditional leadership of our country.
 
I believe that we should always express gratitude to God not because everything is in order but because we recognise the significance of our existence and know that such gratitude elevates us to a place of humility and joy, which is how God desires us to live each day.
 
Hence, it is written in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."
 
Brethren,

We are here today to give thanks because we believe God has bigger plans for our nation and that the Almighty is looking down on our country with excellent intentions and plans to benefit and make us great despite the difficulties we may be experiencing.
 
Despite our difficulties, we have much to be grateful for as a nation. We have achieved democratic freedom, which entails the freedom to practice any religion without fear of persecution among others.
 
Collectively, we can agree that South Africa is a better place than it was three decades ago.
 
Despite the significant progress our great nation has undeniably made over the years, it is of utmost importance to conscientiously acknowledge that we have not yet fully attained our desired goal, including complete economic freedom for our people.  
 
Chief Apostle,

Together with the church, we want to establish an atmosphere favourable for growth and development in our nation. We urge all government, business, and interfaith leaders to unite to build a better for all.
 
We can never divorce the church from politics and the concerns that face our society. When the country was in despair, you were a beacon of hope. You were a part of the massive effort to liberate South Africa.
 
We will always cherish the support from the church during the bleakest period in our nation's history. You were instrumental in offering assistance and refuge to those who opposed apartheid. You provided a sanctuary and aid to activists and those subjected to government brutality.
 
Chief Apostle, Professor Caesar Nongqunga;

The role of the Church in building a better society did not end when we attained our democratic freedom. You have an important role to play in fighting social ills and uplifting the underprivileged in our communities, pushing for improved quality of life for all individuals.
 
We deeply appreciate the church's support of our responsibilities to fulfil our governmental role in addressing the challenges facing society.

It is widely acknowledged that social cohesion is a fundamental element of each society, necessitating the active participation of every member in the joint goal of establishing a cohesive community.
 
We must steadfastly persevere in our collective efforts to promote a spirit of inclusivity amongst all individuals, regardless of the diverse tapestry of our racial, religious, or cultural origins, for in the divine gaze of the Almighty, we are all the same.
 
Without your cooperation as interfaith leaders, I will not be able to successfully carry out my assigned role of promoting social cohesion. As a government, we need interfaith and traditional leaders to strengthen relationships and the sense of solidarity among community members.
 
We need you to be part of our initiatives to fight gender-based violence in our society and promote equality. We need you to be the voice of women and children who are abused. We need you to be the refuge and defender of women's and children’s rights.
 
We must speak against sexual violence and rape of young children and women. We must not be silent when we witness acts of abuse or rape against women and children by our brethren or family members. It is the Christian thing to do!
 
Fellow worshippers, we must work together to address access to quality education, poverty, unemployment, drug and substance abuse, crime, corruption, lack of housing, teenage pregnancy, and high HIV infection among young people.
 
On Friday the 1st we observed World Aids Day under the theme, "Let Communities Lead", we should all redouble our efforts and invest in community-led interventions and community-centred approaches in responding to the HIV epidemic.
 
As modern churches, we should be aware that teaching about sex is not taboo. We should teach our children to wait until the right time. We should teach them about safe sex.
 
We strongly encourage the church, in its capacity as a moral and social leader, to engage in a collaborative effort with us to effectively tackle any societal difficulties. The government relies on you as the religious sector to point out mistakes in a constructive manner and recommend solutions.
 
There is an open-door policy in my office, so you can come in whenever you want to talk about the problems you are having and how to fix them.

As we move forward, let us continue to work together, hand in hand, to build an inclusive and harmonious South Africa for all.
 
As 2024 draws near, we urge the church to educate the congregants about the value of voting. We also ask that you pray for a peaceful election and for our nation to continue to uphold and defend its democratic system.
 
Let me conclude by pleading with you to keep playing a constructive role in society as a church through your spiritual teachings and social initiatives that have assisted in the healing process and the restoration of national unity.
 
Lastly, Chief Apostle Nongqunga, we congratulate you on this Thanksgiving celebration.
 
We wish the church the best and that it will grow and prosper.

Igama leNkosi MaliBongwe!