Written by: Bafana Modise, National Spokesperson, SAFI
Article source: Supplied
Three weeks ago, thousands of Christian Zionists and Jewish South Africans gathered at the City of Mercy Church in Katlehong, raising their voices in prayer and protest against the South African government’s hostility toward Israel.
Now, their message feels prophetic. As the world watched the last 20 living hostages held by Hamas in Gaza return home to Israel after more than two years in captivity, many attendees say the Katlehong gathering was “a call heard in heaven”, a collective stand for justice, faith, and the sanctity of life.
“Recent developments mark a historic turning point: Eitan Mor’s emotional reunion with his family has become a global symbol of resilience, even as Hamas continues to withhold the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages, with only four bodies expected to be handed over. In exchange, Israel has released 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1 700 detainees, the first of whom have begun arriving in Ramallah and Gaza,” coments Bafana Modise, National Spokesperson at SAFI.
At the Katlehong gathering, held weeks before these diplomatic breakthroughs, representatives from the ACDP, COPE, and PA joined faith leaders and thousands of worshippers in declaring that South Africa’s foreign policy must once again align with Judeo-Christian values and the pursuit of peace not hostility.
“When Christians and Jews stand together, we are not only defending our faith, we are taking a stand against government policies that betray South Africa’s values,” said Modise. “Our message is clear: we will not allow the ANC, Naledi Pandor, or the Nelson Mandela Foundation to dictate a foreign policy of hostility and division. Especially when Nelson Mandela himself confirmed that the ANC would always insist on the right of the State of Israel to exist within secure borders. Those were his exact words to the South African Jewish Board of Deputies in August 1993. Today, his foundation under the leadership of Naledi Pandor only seeks to promote hate speech and Islamic extremism ideology, instead of reconciliation and unity in diversity.”
At the event in Katlehong, ACDP representatives, speaking on behalf of the Honourable President Reverend Kenneth Meshoe MP, reaffirmed their unwavering support for Israel and its people. The political party argued that Hamas, and its allies, which include the South African government and ANC, are simply not interested in peace but the complete eradication of Israel from the world map.
The ACDP further highlighted Africa’s overlooked humanitarian crises, noting that Sudan, an African country, is facing the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world, which the ANC never speaks about it. The ACDP stated its prayers remained with the people of Sudan, where over 12 million citizens have been displaced, and over 30 million are in need of humanitarian aid or assistance. Yet, despite these facts, the ANC continues to spend millions in taxpayer contributions to frivolously blame Israel for genocide, without any mention of the Jewish people who endured over 600 days of hell as hostages held in Gaza.
Daniel Jacobi, Executive Chairman of SAFI, added: “South Africa is a nation rooted in faith, and these gatherings affirm our shared commitment to values of integrity, justice, and love. We stand united in prayer for our country, for wisdom for our leaders, and for protection from the divisive forces that seek to destabilise our democracy and persecute believers.”
Cllr Fana Mkhonza of the ACDP told the crowd: “Today, we celebrate our togetherness as Brothers and Sisters from Judeo-Christian faiths, praising and worshipping despite our differences. Our Heavenly Father is rejoicing.”
The Katlehong gathering has since taken on renewed meaning, as Donald Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset before departing for a peace summit in Egypt with world leaders. What was once a domestic act of solidarity has become part of a wider international chorus calling for peace, reconciliation, and moral clarity.
From Ruth and Naomi to King David and the promised Messiah, Jews and Christians have long been united by resilience and faith, a bond that continues to guide believers across the world. That unity, leaders said, is a moral compass for South Africa and a call to resist ideologies that divide and inflame.
Click here to KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE weekly newsletter.
> Please support Christian media and journalism in South Africa. Help us to spread the Word of God and take a stand for the truth by making a donation to our ministry. We appreciate your support. Click here to take hands with JOY! Magazine.
Date published: 15/10/2025
Feature image: Supplied
DISCLAIMER
JOY! News is a Christian news portal that shares pre-published articles by writers around the world. Each article is sourced and linked to the origin, and each article is credited with the author’s name. Although we do publish many articles that have been written in-house by JOY! journalists, we do not exclusively create our own content. Any views or opinions presented on this website are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.
