Kwasizabantu (also KwaSizabantu, Kwa Sizabantu, KSB) is a non-denominational church mission originating in South Africa, which has grown to include centres in several countries. The mission is affiliated with a primary and secondary school,
Domino Service School, and a teacher-training college,
Cedar International Academy.
History
Kwasizabantu Mission was founded in 1970 by Erlo Hartwig Stegen (born in 1935 near
Durban
Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...
). Stegen had been a travelling evangelist among the
Zulu population of
Natal
NATAL or Natal may refer to:
Places
* Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, a city in Brazil
* Natal, South Africa (disambiguation), a region in South Africa
** Natalia Republic, a former country (1839–1843)
** Colony of Natal, a former British colony ( ...
since the 1950s up to 1970. In 1966-67, Stegen's efforts culminated in a revival, accompanied by mass conversions and miraculous healings. 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.
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. The Mission has a few non-profit initiatives, as well as some successful commercial enterprises which fund its activities.
One of the non-profit initiatives is ''Radio Khwezi,'' a community radio broadcasting station which started broadcasting in 1995. Radio Khwezi is available in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands region on FM 90.5 and 107.7 and is available worldwide through live streaming on the Internet. 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.
On 12 August 2006, Kwasizabantu Mission officially opened the Emseni Care Centre (meaning "place of grace"). The Emseni Care Centre provides free care and counselling to
HIV
The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of ''Lentivirus'' (a subgroup of retrovirus) that infect humans. Over time, they cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which progressive failure of the immune ...
and
AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...
patients. Some of the patients have allegedly fully recovered and are HIV free today.
The KwaSizabantu Mission houses the water factory aQuellé and has 8.5 hectares of advanced
greenhouse
A greenhouse (also called a glasshouse, or, if with sufficient heating, a hothouse) is a structure with walls and roof made chiefly of Transparent ceramics, transparent material, such as glass, in which plants requiring regulated climatic condit ...
s where sweet peppers are grown hydroponically. KwaSizabantu Mission also has an extensive avocado farming enterprise. The produce is packaged in a packaging facility on the mission station for Woolworths, Checkers, Spar and other local markets. Some of the produce is exported. It also produces dairy products which are marketed through their Bonlé brand. They also have a Saverite supermarket on the premises with its own bakery and deli. The profit of the different enterprises is used to help those in need and to further the aims of the Mission.
The director 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. 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
In September 2020,
News24 released an exposé alleging that Kwasizabantu is a cult with allegations from former members of abuse—including rape. This sparked an official, ongoing probe by
KwaZulu-Natal local authorities. As a result several South African vendors temporarily stopped selling the mission owned bottled water, aQuellé.
References
External links
*{{Official website, http://www.kwasizabantu.com
Revival Among the Zulus - the story of Erlo Stegen and the start of the revivalDomino Servite SchoolCedar International AcademyRadio Khwezi
Evangelicalism in South Africa
Evangelical organizations established in the 20th century