Bishop Shembe pledges his allegiance to Israel

OWN CORRESPONDENT

There were about 500 people in and around his Bedfordview home on Sunday morning, comprising mainly members of his community. Also in attendance were Ben Swartz, national chairperson of the SA Zionist Federation, as well as Mark Hyman and Gavi Sacks from the South African Friends of Israel.

The bishop told the crowd that his community and the Jewish community pray to the same G-d. He said G-d had commanded the Shembe people to keep the Sabbath holy and that his community fulfilled this on a weekly basis.

He maintained that the relationship between the Shembe and the Jews had always been one of mutual respect and understanding.

Counting ANC members as being among his congregants, he said these people had strengthened the government’s power in South Africa. “The ANC represents our kings, chiefs and priests. They have to listen to us as the children of the nation,” he said.

The bishop praised Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini for speaking out against the ANC’s decision to downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel, adding his own voice in opposing the downgrade.

“I am here to teach the world the word of G-d,” he said, singling out former president Nelson Mandela for having taught people about “a rainbow nation”.

“Our white kids and black kids must grow up together,” he concluded.