Kwasizabantu
 | This article's factual accuracy is disputed. (August 2024) |
| Abbreviation | KSB |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1970 |
| Founder | Erlo Hartwig Stegen |
| Type | Non-denominational Christian mission |
| Purpose | Religious, educational, charitable |
| Headquarters | KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
Region served | International |
| Leader | Lydia Thofozi Dube |
| Website | ksb.org.za |
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.
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.[1] [better source needed] The Mission has a few non-profit initiatives, as well as some successful commercial enterprises which fund its activities.
Current Structure and Operations
[edit]Today, Kwasizabantu operates as a largely self-sustaining organization with a diverse portfolio of activities in multiple countries.
Nonprofit Initiatives
[edit]Radio Khwezi
[edit]Established in 1995[2], this community radio station broadcasts religious content and community programs. It is available on FM 90.5 and 107.7 in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region and online worldwide. 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.
Emseni Care Centre
[edit]Opened in August 2006, it provides free care and counselling to HIV and AIDS patients. Some reports claim that patients have fully recovered and are HIV-free today, though such claims remain disputed."Articles by or about Kwasizabantu Mission". KwaSizabantu Mission. 20 March 2014. [citation needed]
Commercial Enterprises
[edit]aQuellé Water
[edit]One of the mission’s most successful commercial ventures, aQuellé produces and markets bottled water locally and internationally."aQuellé".
Saverite supermarket
[edit]A supermarket on the premises with its own bakery and deli where produce from other mission run enterprises can be purchased.
Agricultural Projects
[edit]The mission operates 8.5 hectares of greenhouses for hydroponic[3] sweet peppers and extensive avocado farms. Produce is packaged on-site for major retailers such as Woolworths, Checkers, and Spar."Kwasizabantu - the place where people are helped". 23 July 2014. Some of the produce is exported, and dairy products are marketed through the Bonlé brand."Bonlé". bonle.co.za.
Educational Institutions
[edit][4] The mission is affiliated with a primary and secondary school, Domino Service School, and a teacher-training college, Cedar International Academy.[5]
Domino Servite School
[edit]Founded in 1986,[6] is a private co-educational academic Christian school that caters to both day scholars and boarders in pre-primary, primary and high school.
Cedar International Academy
[edit]Founded in 1994,[7] as Cedar Training College and later Cedar College of Education is a is a teacher training college. between 2002 and 2015 it operated as a satellite campus of first Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education and later North West University. currently the college operates as Cedar International Academy and is an independent Private Higher Education Institution providing a HEQC accredited Bachelor of Education (BEd) program in Foundation Phase Teaching[8]
History
[edit]Kwasizabantu Mission was founded in 1970 by Erlo Hartwig Stegen (1935–2023).[9] 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 [citation needed]. 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.
The founder 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.[10] 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.[11] This sparked an official, ongoing probe by KwaZulu-Natal local authorities.[12] As a result several South African vendors temporarily stopped selling the mission owned bottled water, aQuellé.[13] But the Cultural Religious and Linguistic (CRL) committee as well as an Independent Panel did not find Kwasisabantu Mission to be a cult [citation needed]. 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. [citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ "Kwasizabantu – JOY!".
- ^ "Radio Khwezi".
- ^ "Increased crop production all year round in perfect climate conditions - Munters". munters.com.
- ^ "KwaSizabantu Mission". KwaSizabantu Mission.
- ^ "Hermannsburg happenings". News24. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
- ^ "Domino Servite School - About".
- ^ "Cedar International Academy - About".
- ^ "Cedar International Academy - Programmes".
- ^ "KwaSizabantu founder Erlo Stegen has died". news24. 26 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "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.