Keynote address delivered by Minister of Social Development, on behalf of Deputy President Paul Mashatile, at the Nazareth Baptist Church, Ebuhleni Home, Thulani Temple, Pietermaritzburg

Mphathi woHlelo;
Mangibingelele ngibonge kuNobhala we Thulani Temple uBaba uDlamini;
Ngibingelele no Buholi bonke bama Nazaretha obukhona lapha; 
Abafundisi, oMama, Amakhosazana kanye neNtsha yaleliBandla;
Ubuholi besifundazwe KwaZulu-Natal esinabo lapha; 
Convener of the ANC KZN, Cde Mike Mabuyakhulu, Ndiyema!
uMgungundlovu District Mayor, uCouncillor M Zuma;
Deputy District Mayor, Cllr Dlamini-Mabaso;
Chief Whip of Msunduzi Local Municipality, uBaba Sibalukhulu;
Ngibingelele zonke Izihambeli zethu namuhla;

iBandla lamaNazaretha, ngiyanibingelela nonke egameni likaJehova.

Ukuthula makube nani nonke!

Kuyasijabulisa kakhulu ukuba yingxenye yaleNkonzo ebaluleke ngangaka namhlanje ngoSuku lweSabatha.

Sizizwa sibusisekile ukunyathela kuleli Temple elingcwele lase Thulani, eWillowfontein ngaphansi kwe Nazareth Baptist Church yaseBuhleni. 

Ngifisa ukuthi ngikhulume ngolimi lwesiLungu: I have long wanted to attend your Sabbath Church Service, not as a speaker, but as a member of the congregation, listening to the Word of God and the teachings that blend indigenous African values with the Holy Bible. As the Holy Scriptures remind us, there is a time for everything and a season for every purpose under heaven. I therefore believe that it is by the grace and will of God that I stand before you today, representing the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Mr Paul Mashatile.

The Deputy President had very much looked forward to being with you on this occasion. Regrettably, he is unable to do so as he is currently on medical leave. He has, however, conveyed his sincere greetings and best wishes to the leadership and all members of the Nazareth Baptist Church gathered here today.

Deputy President Mashatile has asked me to assure you of his continued support for the church, its leadership, and all its congregants. He also wishes you a blessed Sabbath and a spiritually enriching service. 

Njengoba sibuthene lapha namuhla, ngicela sithandaze sonke kuBaba wethu osezulwini ukuba abeke izandla Zakhe ezipholisayo phezu kwakhe ukuze alulame ngokushesha.

As someone who works closely with the Deputy President, I have developed a deep appreciation of the important role that the Nazareth Baptist Church has and continues to play in building social cohesion, fostering unity, and promoting mutual respect among the people of our country. 

This church was founded in 1910 by Inkosi Isaiah Mloyiswa Mdliwamafa Shembe, uBhombela iStimela samaMpondo, uMqali Wendlela! Since then, the Nazareth Baptist Church has stood as a beacon of faith, cultural preservation, and social solidarity among communities for generations. 

Its establishment was particularly significant, as it coincided with the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910, a political arrangement that excluded the majority of Black South Africans from meaningful participation in the administration of their affairs.

Against this backdrop of political marginalisation and colonial dispossession, Inkosi uShembe's movement offered spiritual renewal, dignity, and a sense of identity to African communities. By integrating Christian teachings with elements of Zulu cultural heritage, the Nazareth Baptist Church became one of the most influential African-initiated independent churches in Southern Africa and a powerful vehicle for preserving African traditions in an era of rapid social change.

The church's history is therefore deeply intertwined with the broader history of South Africa. For more than a century, it has accompanied its followers through the challenges of colonialism, segregation, apartheid, and democracy, serving not only as a place of worship but also as a source of social cohesion, cultural affirmation, and collective resilience. For generations, iBandla lamaNazaretha demonstrated that our diversity is not a source of weakness but one of our greatest strength as a nation. 

Through its teachings, fellowship, and community outreach programmes, it has united individuals from diverse backgrounds around shared values of faith, discipline, respect, compassion, and human dignity.

Nanamuhla nje siyabubonga uBuholi beNkosi uShembe, uNyazi lweZulu! 

Igama leNkosi Malibongwe!

The work of the Nazareth Baptist Church led by Unyazi lweZulu resonates strongly with the vision of a democratic South Africa founded on the values of unity, dignity, equality, and social justice. It reminds us that building a prosperous nation is not only the responsibility of Government but also of faith communities, Traditional Leaders, civil society organisations, families, and individuals working together in pursuit of the common good.

Our democratic Government has long recognised that faith-based organisations are indispensable partners in our national development journey. It is for this reason that The Presidency has established the Presidential Interfaith Working Group. This is in recognition of the fact while Government has the constitutional responsibility to provide social services and create an enabling environment for development, we also understand that the work of building caring, resilient and cohesive communities cannot be achieved by Government alone.

It is not a secret that faith communities such as Nazarene Baptist Church occupy a unique position in our society. They are often the first port of call when families experience hardship, when young people lose direction, when communities are confronted by substance abuse, gender-based violence (GBV), poverty, unemployment, or social conflict. Through their daily interaction with communities, faith-based organisations provide not only spiritual nourishment but also practical support, guidance and hope.

Siyayibonga kakhulu imisebenzi yaleliSonto elikhulukazi lika Shembe ekwakheni isizwe, ukuvikela abasifazane, izingane zamantombazane noMama ekuhlukunyezweni nokuphathwa kabi ezweni.

Siyayibonga futhi siyayithakazela inhlonipho nokuziphatha kahle okuyi mfundiso yalapha eBuhleni. 

Igama leNkosi Malibongwe!

Njengoba bese ngike ngasho ukuthi uMongameli Ramaphosa ungiphathise uMnyango ka Zwelonke weZenhlakahle, njengo Hulumeni sisebenza ngokubambisana kakhulu nama Bandla ahlukahlukene kulolonke izwe lethu South Africa.

Siyawazi amagalelo we Nkonzo ka Shembe ekuletheni ukudla komoya kanye nokudla kwenyama emdenini nase Mphakathini wonkana. Engathi ningaqhubeka nibambisane no Hulumeni ekwakheni imindeni eqotho. Ninike imiphakathi yethu ithemba, nokukhulisa izingane ngenhlonipho nokumesaba uJehova.

As the Department of Social Development, we have witnessed the profound impact that faith-based organisations such as the Nazareth Baptist Church have in addressing some of our most pressing social challenges. Whether through feeding schemes, support for older persons, care for orphans and vulnerable children, persons with disabilities, counselling services, youth development programmes, or initiatives aimed at strengthening families, faith communities continue to complement the efforts of Government in meaningful ways.

We also commit Government to assist the church in implementing these programmes of community development. We have already identified several challenges that require our immediate interventions. These include the case of uGogo Mntolo who does not have an identity document and stays with her grandchildren who also do not have birth certificates. 

I have directed that SASSA work around the clock to ensure that uGogo Mntolo and many other families that have similar challenges in this area receive necessary support services without any further delays. I expect a report within a week from the SASSA Regional Manager, working jointly with the Provincial Head of Social Development and many other key partners, including the local municipality and Home Affairs on planned interventions that directly address service delivery issues raised during the community dialogue sessions. 

All children who are eligible for the Child Support Grant or older persons who are eligible for the Old Age Grant must receive it. Our laws are very clear that no eligible child, person with a disability or older person must be denied the right to access a grant because they do not have an identity document or a birth certificate. Abantu bethu bafuna uhulumeni oneminyakazo esheshayo nophendula izidingo zabo. 

As a start, today we have brought the services of the Department and its agencies—the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency (NDA) to the people of Willowfontein and surrounding communities to access government services right here where you live. 

So, today is not the first and last time you see us here. As a caring government and as directed by Deputy President Mashatile, we will continue to work with the leadership of the Nazarene Baptist Church to respond to your concerns. 

In the coming days, the NDA must work jointly with the youth and women of this church with the view to assist them to organise themselves into cooperatives that will drive development in this area. 

uSekela Mongameli uBaba uMashatile uthe angisho ukuthi uHulumeni uzosebenza ngokubambisana nani ukuze kuqedelwe ukwakhiwa kwalendlu engcwele!

The Department of Social Development is inviting the Nazarene Baptist Church and other faith formations to partner with us in the implementation of a variety of programmes for the maximum benefit by our communities. For example, through the Department’s Men and Boys Programme, many faith-based organisations have established Men’s Forums in response to various social ills. 

The Department also launched the Families Matter Programme, which is assisting in addressing the challenges of alcohol and substance abuse and foetal alcohol syndrome. We also urge you as the sector leaders to assist in addressing the challenge of the abuse of older persons and ensuring that children are equipped with relevant teachings for better social grounding.

Through our flagship programme—Asikhulume, we are working with faith communities to confront the scourge of gender-based violence and femicide that President Cyril Ramaphosa has classified as a national disaster. 

In closing, I would like to encourage you to continue playing the important role of supporting vulnerable children, youth, adults, families and communities in whatever manner that will be necessary to bring the best out of each one of them. To this end, the Department of Social Development is availing itself to redouble its investments to work in partnership with Nazarene Baptist Church and the broader interfaith sector in our country.

This is because we know that no matter how many laws we pass, no matter how many houses we build, Government alone can never build a moral society, teach compassion, or instil a sense of responsibility in our young people. 

Together, we can build a South Africa in which every person enjoys dignity, every child is protected, every family is strengthened, and every community has hope for a better future. In this regard, we commend the leadership and members of the Nazareth Baptist Church for their constant dedication to serving humanity and contributing to the creation of a united, inclusive and prosperous South Africa.

As November 4 draws near, we ask the leadership of Nazareth Baptist Church and all faith communities across South Africa to pray for far and peaceful Local Government Elections. Let us pray that the Nazareth Baptist Church will lead the way in humility, compassion and love throughout the upcoming elections as it has throughout the history of our nation. 

uShembe uMqali Wendlela anibusise nonke! 

Ngiyabonga.