‘Rising to call’ — Senekal candidate Pastor John Mathuhle

Just over a year ago Pastor John Mathuhle was at the centre of a divine intervention in which God prevented an outbreak of violence between opposing groups in front of a courthouse in the Eastern Free State town of Senekal where a farm murder trial was under way. Since then he has been at the forefront of reconciliation and community development initiatives in the town. He is currently standing as a DA ward candidate in the Setsoto Municipality (Ficksburg, Senekal, Clocolan and Marquard) in the upcoming municipal elections. In the interview below he responds to questions from Gateway News

What led to you — as a pastor — deciding to stand in the upcoming election?

I have always had a disturbing feeling in my spirit concerning the direction our country was taking since 2004. It was as if I was being pulled towards something that had to do with the role I should play in our political environment. I always thought it was only to pray for and perhaps give advice to those who were serving in politics.

It wasn’t until I went to Stellenbosch in the Western Cape to study with ALICT ( African Leadership Institute for Community Transformation) where my passion for community transformation was ignited and I could now understand why I had been so concerned about the wellbeing of my community and the nation.

The Lord spoke to me through Roman 8:19 about the coming season of the revealing sons of the Kingdom who will respond with grace and authority to the groanings of the creation ( Nation) which is in pain and broken by corruption and lawlessness. They will restore order and righteous rule as destined by our God for this nation. And He told me that I was part of that generation that would rise up in due season.

If you become mayor of Setsoto what will be your priorities?

As the mayor your main responsibilities are to champion service delivery in your municipality — by ensuring that people get clean water every day, garbage is removed on schedule, street lights are working and streets are cleaned and grass is cut. Also that infrastructure such as roads, municipal buildings including water and sanitation plants and municipal fleets are regularly maintained to enable uninterrupted service delivery and to attract investment and tourism to the municipality.

Looking beyond your region, what is your message to SA Christians about exercising their opportunity to vote on November 1?

In the book of Proverbs 29:2 it talks about a righteous government vs a wicked one. It says: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.” I believe as Christians we have been entrusted with a mandate to restore the joy to our nation, to break the yokes of oppression and poverty that have been put upon our people. It is time that we allow our nation to rejoice again by voting into power men and women with servant hearts and integrity, who want to do the right thing and heal our communities.

#Let the People Rejoice

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