Maritzburg United vs. Platinum Stars, 2016 ~ Preaching

The following preaching took place on Saturday evening February 13, 2016, outside the Harry Gwala South Gate before the Maritzburg United vs. Platinum Stars ABSA Premiership soccer match. Here is a four part playlist, in total +40 minutes:

Reference is made to certain soccer stadium tragedies which can be viewed at the following links where fans went to matches, but never returned home because they lost their lives ~

>> Heysel Stadium, 29 May 1985, European Cup Final between Liverpool (England) and Juventus (Italy) – 39 dead, 600 injured.

>> Hillsborough Stadium, 15 April 1989, English FA Cup Semi-Final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest – 96 dead, 766 injured.

>> Ellis Park Stadium, 11 April 2001, Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates – 43 dead, ?? injured.

The question is, were those souls ready? And Are You Ready? If you should die, where are you headed – Heaven? or Hell?

27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: ~ Hebrews 9:27

Go preach to every creature . . .

1  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. ~ Isaiah 58:1

Yes indeed! Go, stand and speak (see Acts 5:20). We are commanded to “GO” and proclaim by way of preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to the nations. We are commanded by GOD to make disciples of all nations and this can only come about by teaching, for it is written,

18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 
20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ~ Matthew 28:18-20

We are instructed in the Gospel according to Mark, for it is written,

15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. ~ Mark 16:15,16

Whilst it might seem nigh impossible to reach every creature, one should endeavour to attempt to reach as many as you can from every tribe, tongue and nationality using every opportunity that presents itself by GOD’s leading! For GOD’s ways are not our ways, for it is written,

9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 
10  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. ~ Isaiah 55:9-11

For we preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified, for as it is written,

21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23  But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:21-24

Here are some picture stories of our evangelism adventures for the Glory of GOD Alone . . .

Saturday January 8, 2016

Jono, Philip and his son Obadiah distributed Christian Gospel literature and DVDs, whilst Gary preached with a loudhailer in Raisethorpe on the main road Chota Motala. The predominant people groups reached were Indian / Asian, of the Hindu, Islamic and other religious faiths. Was heckled by a Hindu woman who said we cannot judge other peoples’ faiths and also chirped by a coloured “professing christian” woman who took offence at us saying drunkards will not enter the kingdom of GOD (see 1 Corinthians 6:9,10).

Wednesday March 2, 2016

Jono, Aziz and Gary joined up to spend time sowing Gospel literature into the hands of people congregating outside the Bessie Head Library and passing by the Magistrate’s Courts across Church Street in Pietermaritzburg. Had a solid 1-on-2 Gospel conversation with two African youth, before breaking out into an open-air proclamation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to a gathered group atop the stairs. Much literature was distributed.

Wednesday March 9 and Thursday March 10, 2016

Attended at Townhill Psychiatric Hospital and was lead of the LORD to speak with and present the Gospel to an Islamic woman named Nasreen who was divorced by her Islamic husband. She was there to pick up medication from the outpatients’ department for her eldest daughter that suffers with Autism. On the Thursday Aziz and Gary visited the Northdale Hospital’s outpatients and much Gospel tract distribution was done to patients and medical staff alike. An open-air preaching session went forth unhindered as GOD provided an open door to make known the Gospel of His Son our great physician Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour Who heals a disease all of humanity suffers from – SIN! Whilst physical healing was being sought there, the greatest miracle would be spiritual healing of one’s soul by GOD Almighty through His Son Jesus Christ to all who believe upon His name. 

Friday March 11, 2016

Jono distributed many tracts and Gary distributed some tracts whilst preaching open-air atop “The Box” outside the Harry Gwala Stadium’s South Gate before the Maritzburg United vs. Golden Arrows ABSA Premiership League soccer match. It became a cold and a very wet evening for which we thank GOD our Father for we are in a drought at present!

Saturday March 12, 2016

Attended outside the Mall @Scottsville where a school fundraiser for four primary schools were taking place. Jono and Gary sowed the seed of the Gospel and whilst Gary preached there appeared to be some “mocking” comments made from what we perceived to be some Varsity students. This Mall is near the UKZN Campus with students passing by regularly. The passerby was told they must repent and turn back to GOD and have their faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (see Acts 20:21).

 

Friday March 18, 2016

It was break-up day for the Easter holidays outside Scottsville Primary School. Whilst waiting for our grandson, Gary and his wife Tammy distributed Gospel tracts, including one titled: “The Reason You Must Be Born Again.” He also proclaimed the Gospel to the pupils, and passing parents, that Easter is not about bunnies and chocolate eggs, but the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of the Saviour of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ! Children and parents took many Gospel tracts. Praise be to YHVH!

8  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 
9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 
10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 
11  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ~ Romans 10:8-17

Which Date in 2016 for Easter or Passover?

On April 9, 2015 we wrote an open article directed at “Dear _____(insert the name)_____ Church” in a blogpost titled “Passover or Easter Controversy”, wherein we discussed at length the etymology of the translation of the words “Easter” in the Authorised Version (KJV 1611) and “Passover” in the modern translations pertaining to Acts 12:4. We also directed the readers to two articles dealing with the true etymology of Easter which were posted in September 2014 under the title “Correct Rendering of Easter at Acts 12:4” which can be read at these links Part 1 and Part 2. We do suggest that you read these preceding articles to gain the context from which this particular article is written.

As discussed online, and via an email to a local body of believers at LHBC where I once fellowshipped, writer pointed out the following pertaining to the celebration of “Good Friday” in 2015 in relation to the Jewish Passover, bearing in mind that the oracles of GOD were committed unto the Jew (Israel)(see Romans 3:2), yet the “Gentiles” make up their own ways as they deem fit! The quote read as follows concerning the date Easter was celebrated in 2015:

This “Good Friday” (3rd April 2015) was before the true Jewish Passover (Nisan 14) for 2015 which only took place at sunset on Saturday 4th April to sunset Sunday 5th April 2015 [the first day of the week] and therefore the resurrection would be three days and three nights later on Thursday 9th April 2015 [the fourth day of the week]! Just “celebrating ‘Good Friday’” as the day of the crucifixion would be in and of itself Roman Catholic! And this year “we” have failed to keep the Jewish feast! This is why we have a real drastic problem keeping days and feasts as we are warned in Galatians 4:9,10 ~

9  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10  Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. ~ Galatians 4:9,10 

Do you desire again to be in bondage? The real problem actually comes into true contrast when we see how the modern denominational churches – including some “professing remnants” – will celebrate Easter/Resurrection Sunday in 2016! Now which date are you going to use for your church/celebration services? The Roman Catholic and protestant churches have “Good Friday” set down for Friday March 25, 2016 and “Easter/Resurrection Sunday” set down for Sunday March 27, 2016! However, about 2,000 years ago our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified at Passover and the Jewish Passover in 2016 takes place from Nisan 14 (see Leviticus 23:5-8) in the Jewish calendar which equates to the secular calendar of the evening of Saturday April 23, 2016 and ends seven days later in the evening of Saturday April 30, 2016! There is about a month difference from the “Gentile celebration” preceding the actual celebration day and date of the Jewish Passover. So which day/date holds the more credence? Biblical truth? or man’s traditions and customs? This shows the disjointed ways of modern churchianity. However, the reason for the month’s difference which will escape many is that the Jewish calendar is also in a leap year, i.e. today, 20th of March, 2016 is 10th of Adar II, 5776. The chart hereunder reflects the first day of the Passover celebration which is the First day of unleavened bread proper (see Matthew 26:17ff; Mark 14:12ff; Luke 22:7ff):

 

YEAR	EASTER	PASSOVER*	DIFFERENCE
2013	Good Friday, March 29 – Sunday, March 31	Evening of March 26 (Nisan 15, 5773) – evening of April 1	Easter in the midst
2014	Good Friday, April 18 – Sunday, April 20	Evening of April 15 (Nisan 15, 5774) – evening of April 21	Easter in the midst
2015	Good Friday, April 3 – Sunday, April 5	Evening of April 4 (Nisan 15, 5775) – evening of April 10	Easter one day before
2016	Good Friday, March 25 – Sunday, March 27	Evening of April 23 (Nisan 15, 5776) – evening of April 29	Easter one month before
2017	Good Friday, April 14 – Sunday, April 16	Evening of April 11 (Nisan 15, 5777) – evening of April 17	Easter in the midst

* A date converter from the Gregorian calendar to the Hebrew calendar can be found at: www.hebcal.com/converter/

[The same unbiblical situation with secular feast days plays out every December 25th, too!]

Brothers and sisters in Christ, our Lord Jesus Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13) “Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter [law], but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life (2 Corinthians 3:6). Therefore, we are called to be of the same speech, of no divisions, perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment, and as there were contentions back in the first century so there are contentions even today which ought not to be so, as it is written:

9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. 
10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 
11  For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 
12  Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 
13  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? ~ 1 Corinthians 1:9-13

1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 
2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 
3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 
5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 
6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 
7  But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. ~ Ephesians 4:1-7

11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. ~ Ephesians 4:11-16

Today’s churches appear so disjointed and divided from what we have just read from GOD’s Word, the Holy Scriptures that speak of our Lord of Glory Jesus Christ. How is it that there are so many different days kept for Christ, or teachings taught that are  diametrically opposed to the unity in Christ and His disciples are divided? Surely, the “His disciples are divided” statement would be an oxymoron? Right?

Then there are believers who proudly state that they are Calvinists or Arminianists or (fill in the blank) when we are to follow the Bible’s teachings of the apostles’ doctrine (see Acts 2:42). John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius and (fill in the blank) did not establish the foundation and authenticate the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for you as the apostles and prophets of old did, for the “written works” of Calvin, Arminius, et al, are extra-biblical,

19  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 
20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 
21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. ~ Ephesians 2:19-22

By way of another example: How can believers hold to “a pre-trib rapture”? “a mid-trib rapture”? and/or “a post-trib rapture”? and each holding to each of the respective teachings think their doctrine is correct! These are three different doctrines. Surely, if believers are abiding in Christ and have received the Holy Spirit of GOD, He, the Holy Spirit, does not divide by teaching diametrically opposed teachings?

33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:33 

Ekklesia of GOD, something is drastically amiss and in error! We can learn a valuable lesson from the apostle Paul. He said that if his eating meat would offend his brother he would abstain from it, as we read,

11  And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 
12  But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 
13  Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. ~ 1 Corinthians 8:11-13

If we are serious of being obedient to GOD’s commands, then we ought to keep His commandments and also lay down our lives for our brethren. It must cost us to be a true disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ! Sadly, what is playing out in modern churchianity is that there are teachings and celebrations that are done in lust and pride for one’s own gratification and teachings to make a name for oneself which is sinful and contrary to glorifying GOD. We are told by our Lord Jesus, for it is written,

24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. ~ John 4:24

If we are not in agreement, how can we be of the same Spirit and Truth? That is why our Lord protects us from sinful behaviour of having contentions amongst ourselves of observing days, and months, and times, and years and draws all of His born again disciples into unity when He gave command to remember His death through His instituted supper until He will come back, as we read, for it is written,

23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24  And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25  After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26  For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 [my emphasis]

Some will hear and sadly others will neglect the Biblical instruction and continue on as they please: But, be warned, all must give an accounting to Christ Jesus . . .

The Gospel . . . Racism and South African History

On Saturday January 30, 2016, Jono and Gary went to minister outside the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg at the Maritzburg United vs. Mamelodi Sundowns ABSA Premiership soccer match. We would be having conversations, handing out Christian literature/tracts and proclaiming the Law and the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in the open-air.

The early evening started off well with a conversation with two gate-stewarts named Mbongeni and Snqobile (to the left) who both were very open and receptive to the Law and the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus Christ. Please pray for their souls and the many other hearers of the Good News.

 

There were huge crowds of people out that evening and sadly many are lost in their sins, many were drunk even before entering the grounds, and sadly there is still that scourge of racism from black Africans demanding their land back; as one man said, “Give back our land then we can talk!” about Christianity. We white Africans were subjected to some racist slurs whilst handing out Christian tracts and preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. A short video revealing an African man’s heart – seen to the right speaking to Jono – is posted here to show the wickedness that exists in men’s hearts, as we can read in GOD’s Holy Word,

9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 
10  I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. ~ Jeremiah 17:9,10 

From the video you will learn sadly of a false history. This is largely due to a lack of knowledge which may well be from a lack of education. However, the history of South Africa has largely been changed to fit men’s political ideologies to further their own agendas for wicked gain and control of people groups. Karl Marx said, “Democracy is the road to socialism.” How true that quote is when one considers that the African National Congress (ANC) comrades were trained under Stalinism and Marxism ideologies and are in a tripartite alliance with the South African Communist Party (SACP) and COSATU (a workers’ union that can cripple the South African economy at will with their strike actions). It is therefore no surprise that the South African history has been changed to fit with the governing socialist-communism agenda to further their propaganda. Since 1994 to present 2016 (22 years) South Africa has declined under the lack of leadership, maladministration and fraud which has seen a once prospering nation financially raped and economically plundered to a BBB-credit rating of only one level above ‘junk status’ according to Fitch Ratings in December 2015. Even in the so-called dark days of apartheid, writer does not advocate apartheid, the South African Rand (ZAR) currency was stronger against the US Dollar (USD) and the British Pound (GBP) trading in the positive, at times +2:1, where our Rand was stronger than foreign currencies. Historically, the South African Rand reached an all time high of R16.84 in January 2016 and a record low of R0.67 in June 1973 against the US$. Whilst South Africa had economic sanctions imposed against her in the 1980s the Rand still held its value against the US$! Since 1994 the ZAR has also reached an all time high against the GBP of R24.51 on 11 January 2016. Now we are seen as a ‘third world beggar’ nation that pleads poverty yet millions and billions of Rand are wasted, misspent, and pilfered through governmental schemes, like travel-gate, Nkandla-gate, tender-entrepreneur-gate, et al! This beautiful land of ours that belongs to all peoples’ groups is slowly being destroyed from the Presidency’s office at the Union Buildings through the corridors of parliament downwards to the man on the street, the fiscal has become a  joke, crime is out of control, and arson appears acceptable when students destroy the universities and torch priceless portraits as happened at UCT – learning institutions of our future leaders. It is outright wickedness that shows these rebellious heathen thugs as reprobate in their actions. Where are the law enforcement agencies? Where is the rule of law? Anarchy prevails! While all of this lawlessness is playing out across the landscape of our society various people groups are being marginalised and victimised by these actions. As can be seen in the photograph hereunder a barbarous statement is made on a Tee-shirt: “KILL ALL WHITES”. This incites hatred, racism and xenophobia against a particular race group!

Continued political speeches enforcing apartheid rhetoric effectually indoctrinates the majority of the black Africans by bringing up a distorted past that portrays all white Africans as racists of the apartheid regime. Not all whites are to be tarred and feathered with one brush! Not all stood for the apartheid regime and in many quarters English speaking whites were not always given the same working opportunities as Afrikaans speaking whites during the apartheid years. At the same time, you cannot class all Afrikaans speaking whites in the same category of the apartheid regime! We are white Africans for we were born in Africa. GOD’s Word is very clear about our habitation as we read,

26  And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; ~ Acts 17:26

GOD “hath determined the times appointed, and the bounds of their habitation” – that is where we should live. I am therefore proud to be a white African, however, sinful humanity will call being ‘white’ racist and being a supremacist!

So here is a brief overview of South African history pertaining to apartheid, and Jan van Riebeeck’s landing at Table Bay on April 6, 1652. Some even believe the absurdity that apartheid came to these shores with  Jan van Riebeeck, a devout Dutch reformed Christian, not to be confused with the ‘Dutch Reformed church’ of the apartheid era. Apartheid “officially” only existed during the period from 1948 to 1994, a time period of 46 years. The term apartheid was introduced into South African politics in 1948 as part of the election campaign by D.F. Malan’s Herenigde Nasionale Party (HNP – ‘Reunited National Party’). From the 1950’s the ANC’s anti-apartheid “peaceful” Defiance Campaign was orchestrated. After the SA Police had tragically opened fire at a Defiance Campaign held at Sharpeville killing 69 and wounding 186 and thereafter the South African Government banned the ANC and the PAC on March 30, 1960, the ANC commenced their retaliation with their terrorist armed-struggle in 1961, with their military wing Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) carrying out in 18 months 200 acts of sabotage.  From 1961 to 1990 MK engaged in many incidents of bombings, torture and murder, killing hundreds of civilians. These attacks, for there are always two sides to a story, also included these two soft civilian targets by way of example to demonstrate the atrocious terror inflicted on civilians, both black and white, amongst others –

“Magoo’s Bar is bombed” which report reads as follows:

Saturday, 14 June 1986

Three people died and sixty-nine are injured in a bomb explosion in Magoo’s Bar on the Durban beach. An ANC’s arm wing uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) cell, led by Robert McBride, planted a bomb in a car outside the popular “Why Not Magoo’s Bar”, with the belief that the place was frequented by security branch police. There was a campaign at that time by MK members to attack police stations and places frequented by police. McBride was caught and convicted, and later granted both a reprieve from death row, and amnesty by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).

Source:

• Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau.

and “Bomb in Benoni Wimpy kills Mary” which report reads as follows:

Saturday, 30 July 1988

Mary-Anne D’Oliveira Netto Serrano (21) was killed in a bomb explosion in the Wimpy Bar [Restaurant] at the Benoni Plaza, Benoni on the East Rand. About sixty [66] people were injured, of whom nine seriously. Four men, Tebogo [Christopher] Kebotlhale, Molwedi Mokoena, Phumzi [Ernest] Sigasa and Elfas Mabore Ndhlovu who declared themselves as ANC members, applied for amnesty to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) for the bombing in Benoni and an ambush outside Lindela Hostel in Katlehong in 1988. They alleged that they had targeted the Wimpy, because they believed it was a regular meeting place of police officers. The four men were granted amnesty in 1999.

Sources:

• Wallis, F. (2000). Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar, Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. The Star, 30 July 2004. Milestones.
• http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/1998/98c31_0x4909811567.htm
• http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/amntrans/1998/98090708_ben_benoni2.htm
• http://www.doj.gov.za/trc/decisions/1999/ac990294.htm

The ensuing terrorism ultimately pressured the Nationalist government and led to the South African State President F.W. de Klerk – of the now defunct Nationale Party (NP – ‘National Party’) – beginning negotiations to end apartheid, culminating in the multi-racial one-man-one-vote democratic elections of 1994. De Klerk began the process of dismantling apartheid with the release of Mandela’s mentor and several other political prisoners in October 1989. Nelson Mandela (born 18 July 1918 – died 5 December 2013?) was released from the Victor Verster Prison on February 11, 1990. The official abolition of apartheid occurred in 1991 with the repeal of the last of the remaining apartheid laws, but it is widely regarded that apartheid fell at the 1994 democratic general elections. The scars of the apartheid years were finally put to rest, so it seemed, at the subsequent Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). However, this is far from the truth as we still see and hear that the post-1994 State of the Nation Address (SONA) by the Presidents of the new South Africa continue reminding the citizens of the apartheid years using it as a ‘fear tactic’ to win votes and also as if the ruling ANC party still have ‘an enemy to get rid of,’ and this is into their 22nd year of rule (1994-2016)! Many of today’s youth were not even born during the apartheid years yet the Marxist ANC government still continues indoctrinating young and old minds alike about apartheid never putting the past to rest! This is why South Africa as a nation will never progress as it holds onto the scars and unforgiveness of yesteryear. Two wrongs do not make a right! Scripture tells us,

2  When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. ~ Proverbs 29:2

While people suffered and mourned under the wicked apartheid regime, today post-apartheid people are still suffering and mourning under the wicked rule of the ANC-led government!

In the video posted above the man being recorded states that when Jan van Riebeeck arrived at the Cape there were no women with them and earlier he had stated that the Dutch raped the indigenous Khoikhoi women! That statement incites hatred and makes false accusations against a particular people group, which is racist and xenophobic. For the record, whilst writer at the time indicated that he was not sure of the number of women who accompanied Jan van Riebeeck and his crew, it was ascertained that “8 women” accompanied them and is recorded here to complete the historical record:

On 24 December 1651, accompanied by his wife [Maria] and son, Jan van Riebeeck set off from Texel in The Netherlands for the Cape of Good Hope. Van Riebeeck had signed a contract with the Dutch East India Company (VOC) to oversee the setting up of a refreshment station to supply Dutch ships on their way to the East. Sailing on the Dromedaris with two other ships, the Rejiger and De Goede Hoop, Van Riebeeck was accompanied by 82 men and 8 women. [writer’s emphasis]

When Van Riebeeck left The Netherlands in 1651, the Council of Policy, a bureaucratic governing structure for the refreshment station, had already been established. On board the Dromedaris Van Riebeeck conducted meetings with his officials – minutes of the meetings of the Council of Policy, dated from December 1651, have been carefully archived.

Source: South African History Online

While white South Africans are collectively termed as “Europeans” and seen as colonials or colonists who have “stolen the black’s land” this is also so far from the truth. In The Witness newspaper dated Friday, March 4, 2016, you can read an extract on page 2, which full report has been gleaned from the internet, which appears here, under a heading titled,

Land date ‘unfair’

Zuma says 1913 cut-off lopsided against SA blacks

CAPE TOWN – Should the 1913 cut off-date for land claims be changed to the 1800s? President Jacob Zuma raised the question as he opened the National House of Traditional Leaders in Cape Town on Thursday.

“The very law that we have today to claim is lopsided against the black people. It is very difficult to prove that the land belonged to the ancestors and very easy to say we can’t have the land. That’s how the law is.”

“Was the decision to make 1913 the cut-off date correct? Perhaps yes. But was the land taken in 1913?

Most of the land was taken in the 1800s. Very little land was taken after 1913. This was when the colonialisation of South Africa was consolidated, he said.

He added later that he did not care if people called him names over his statements.

Zuma said that the 1913 Native Land Act, which banned blacks from buying or renting land, was merely about white colonialists shoring up whatever fertile land they had not yet claimed for themselves.

“I could forgive the period before [the 1800s]. It would be reasonable,” he said to murmurs of approval from the royalty and high chiefs assembled before him.

“The dispossession of land is the source of the poverty and inequality which have become the ugly hallmark of our nation and an impediment to the future of shared prosperity.”

He quoted former ANC secretary general Sol Plaatjie, who wrote that when the Land Act came into force, black men went to sleep owning land, and woke up being worse off than slaves.

Zuma said: “I believe as a son of a black man, and a black man… that we need to shift that cut-off date. But we need to find a reasonable way of addressing the issue. Within the Constitution, within the law. But look at the facts. Where do these people in informal settlements come from? Where is their land? Is it a lie that their land was taken?”

South Africa reopened its land claims process in 2014. It would run until June 2019. Every week, new claims were gazetted. On February 23, the National Assembly passed amendments to the Land Expropriation Act. They make matters clearer, including the administrative processes involved and the land owner’s rights.

Zuma’s comments come at the same time as some student organisations tear down symbols of colonial era lawmakers and soldiers and tell white people that their forefathers stole land in South Africa.

The EFF has also made land redistribution one of its top priorities.

In the National Assembly on Tuesday, FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald said Zuma’s comments about land, which he made at the ANC’s birthday celebration in Rustenburg in January, were against nation building, and racist.

Groenewald reacted when ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani stood up to say that the land was taken at the barrel of a gun.

Zuma said last year he urged traditional leaders to join efforts in claiming land, rather than lodging competing claims. He said he looked forward to debating his address in Tshwane on March 22.

– News 24

See also The New Observer dated February 4, 2016: SA President Faces “Hate Speech” Suit

For the record, land/territories/colonies can be annexed in two ways: Either through war/combat or by way of peaceful negotiations concluded by signing a deed/acceding land by agreement or sale. An extract from the South African History Online website that deals with Jan van Riebeeck’s Dutch/European bureaucratic framework wherein he operated would be to negotiate the sale or renting of land with strangers in a culture using written records supported by a bureaucratic system of governance. Hence Van Riebeeck, coming as he did from a bureaucratic culture with a unilateral, albeit written, mandate to establish a refreshment station, refused to acknowledge that land ownership could be organised in ways different from the Dutch/European way. In other words, if there were no written documents confirming land ownership, the land was free for use, renting, purchase or sale. The extract reads as follows:

Although the VOC did not originally intend to establish a colony at the Cape, permits were issued in February 1657 to free nine company servants (who became the Free Burghers) to farm along the Liesbeeck River in order to deal with a wheat shortage. They were given as much land as they could cultivate in three years but were forbidden to trade with anyone other than the VOC. With the number of private farms increasing, by 1659 the station was producing enough to supply any passing ship. The station also began to experience a chronic labour shortage and because the Khoisan were seen as ‘uncooperative’, slaves were imported from Batavia (now northern Jakarta) and Madagascar in 1657.

The land on which the Dutch farmed was used by the Khoikhoi and the San, who lived a semi-nomadic culture which included hunting and gathering. Since they did not have a written culture, they had neither written title deeds for their land, nor did they have the bureaucratic framework within which to negotiate the sale or renting of land with strangers from a culture using written records supported by a bureaucratic system of governance. Hence Van Riebeeck, coming as he did from a bureaucratic culture with a unilateral, albeit written, mandate to establish a refreshment station, refused to acknowledge that land ownership could be organised in ways different from the Dutch/European way. He denied the Khoisan rights and title to the land, claiming that there was no written evidence of the true ownership of the land. Consequently in 1659 the Khoikhoi embarked on the first of a series of unsuccessful armed uprisings against the Dutch invasion and appropriation of their land – their resistance would continue for at least 150 years.

In response to the growing skirmishes with the local population, in 1660 Van Riebeeck planted a wild almond hedge to protect his settlement. By the end of the same year, under pressure from the Free Burghers, Van Riebeeck sent the first of many search parties to explore the hinterland. Van Riebeeck remained leader of the Cape until 1662. By the time he left the settlement in May 1662 it had grown to 134 officials, 35 Free Burghers, 15 women, 22 children and 180 slaves.

Source: South African History Online

It should also be noted that the indigenous black African tribes, which among others include the Sotho, the Xhosa, the Zulu, the Basotho, the Tswana, the Pondo, etc. who were all originally from the greater Nguni tribe from western and central Africa who migrated south and settled in southern Africa which is now South Africa. The indigenous tribes of the Nguni were not originally from the areas which they came to occupy, but through many tribal wars came to stake claim to the land. Just as with the Khoikhoi and San of the western region of southern Africa, the Nguni indigenous tribes’ claims to their land were through oral tradition as they had neither written title deeds for their land, nor did they have the bureaucratic framework within which to negotiate the sale or renting of land. Land was obtained by tribal wars/combats and therefore there are no records prior to European colonialists establishing a written culture of archiving records of land ownership.

This part of history is not told to the majority of black Africans by the politicians. Neither are the facts of a legitimately signed title deed between Piet Retief, a Dutch reformist Christian, and Zulu King Dingane, where Dingane gave vast tracts of land rightfully to the Boers in Natal. On that same day, February 6, 1838, Piet Retief and his Voortrekker party were massacred at Hlomo amabuto, uMgungundlovu. In hundreds of historical documents it is recorded that King Dingane had met with Piet Retief, a leader of the Voortrekkers, in November 1837 and it was agreed that in return for the recovering of some stolen cattle from a rival Chief Sekonyela, Dingane would sign a deed of cession of lands (written in English) for the benefit of the Voortrekkers. Wikipedia records the record as follows,

It is generally believed that Dingane knew what he was signing, although he could not have had any formal education, and could not have read the contents of the document, nor could have understood the concept of permanent land ownership, since it was not a custom of the Zulus to permanently assign land to individuals. On 6 February 1838, after two days of feasting, the chief had Retief and his diplomatic party killed. They had been told to leave their firearms outside the royal kraal. Suddenly, when the dancing had reached a frenzied climax, King Dingane leapt to his feet and shouted Bulalani abatagati! (Kill the wizards!). The men were totally overpowered and dragged away to a hill called kwaMatiwane, named after a chief who had been killed there. Retief and his men were savagely butchered to death. It is alleged by some that the reason why they were killed was that they withheld some of the cattle recovered from Chief Sekonyela. The general opinion is that Dingane did not wish to yield the land ceded to them in the treaty and mistrusted the presence of the Voortrekkers. At the same time, Dingane’s forces massacred Retief’s undefended trek party, about 500 Boers and native servants, including women and children. The Boers called this the Weenen massacre. The nearby present-day town of Weenen (Dutch for “weeping”) was named by early settlers in memory of the massacre.

In a further act of war, Dingane ordered his army also to seek and kill the group of Voortrekkers under Andries Pretorius. The Zulu impis attacked the Voortrekker encampment [laager], but they were crushingly defeated in the ensuing Battle of Blood River [Afrikaans: Slag van Bloedrivier; Zulu: iMpi yaseNcome] on 16 December 1838. An estimated 3,000+ Zulus were killed from an estimated strength of 12,000-21,000 men, while three Voortrekkers were slightly wounded from a strength of 464 Pioneers + 200 servants.

Following the decisive Voortrekker victory at Blood River, Andries Pretorius and his “victory commando” recovered the remains of the Retief party. They buried them on 21 December 1838.

Also recovered was the undamaged deed of cession from Retief’s leather purse, written by Jan  Gerritze Bantjes, Retief’s secretary, as later verified by a member of the “victory commando”, E.F. Potgieter. Two exact copies survive, (either of which could be original) but legend states the original deed disappeared in transit to the Netherlands during the Anglo-Boer War.

Source: Wikipedia

Another document that can be read from Missionary Owen’s eye witness account, is: The Great Murder: Chapter 8 of ‘The Great Trek’.

South Africa has a government that GOD has allowed for a season, just as GOD raised up Pharaoh for HIS own purposes, as we read,

17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. ~ Romans 9:17,18

And Pharaoh and Egypt were judged of GOD Who raises and destroys nations, for GOD has all righteous, just authority over HIS creation, as we read,

12  With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
13  With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
14  Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
15  Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
16  With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
17  He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
18  He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
19  He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty. 
20  He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged. 
21  He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty. 
22  He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. 
23  He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
24  He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
25  They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. ~ Job 12:12-25

In Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary we read concerning Job 12:12-25 the following,

This is a noble discourse of Job concerning the wisdom, power, and sovereignty of God, in ordering all the affairs of the children of men, according to the counsel of His own will, which none can resist. It were well if wise and good men, who differ about lesser things, would see how it is for their honour and comfort, and the good of others, to dwell most upon the great things in which they agree. Here are no complaints, or reflections. He gives many instances of God’s powerful management of the children of men, overruling all their counsels, and overcoming all their oppositions. Having all strength and wisdom, God knows how to make use, even of those who are foolish and bad; otherwise there is so little wisdom and so little honesty in the world, that all had been in confusion and ruin long ago. These important truths were suited to convince the disputants that they were out of their depth in attempting to assign the Lord’s reasons for afflicting Job; his ways are unsearchable, and his judgments past finding out. Let us remark what beautiful illustrations there are in the word of God, confirming his sovereignty, and wisdom in that sovereignty: but the highest and infinitely the most important is, that the Lord Jesus was crucified by the malice of the Jews; and who but the Lord could have known that this one event was the salvation of the world?

~ Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

This nation’s only hope is to cry out in sackcloth and ashes to the One and Only True and Living GOD – the GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob – Who is the GOD of Creation Who has commanded men everywhere to repent! YHVH has called the nations to turn back to HIM! Let GOD not bring a famine of HIS Word upon this nation or any other through wickedness, as we read,

11  Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
12  And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it. ~ Amos 8:11,12

Judgment Day is coming . . . and before then, salvation of GOD can only be obtained through the Lord Jesus Christ – or else those who are not born again will stand naked, poor and condemned before GOD’s Judgment Seat. South Africa – Repent today . . .