Kenneth Meshoe, man of the cloth and president of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), has spent his illustrious political career attempting to mesh religious values and governance.
Kenneth Meshoe has his roots firmly grounded in Christian principles and has crusaded for religious leadership roles in national governance since the inception of the ACDP more than 25 years ago. As one the original National Assembly members, obtaining the position at the turn of South Africa’s turbulent transition to democracy, Meshoe’s pragmatically pious approach to the political landscape has earned him the respect of his colleagues.
The ACDP has remained a minor opposition party since South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. Since then, the party support at polling stations has hovered around the 1% mark. Still, in terms of coalition governance, the ACDP, which almost always sides with fellow opposition parties, has the propensity to steer the course of executive political appointments, despite their meagre national support.
Kenneth Meshoe, from the pulpit to politics
Kenneth Rasalabe Joseph Meshoe was born on 18 January 1954 in Pretoria. Meshoe, one of seven children, completed his Matric Certificate in 1972 and graduated from the University of the North with a Secondary Teachers Diploma in 1975.
At the time, Meshoe, while interested in religious undertakings, chose to apply himself to the education of others. For a few years, Meshoe put his tertiary education to good use by working as a teacher.
However, the call of the cloth was too strong to ignore. In 1976, while still teaching, Meshoe and his wife, Lydia, joined Christ For All Nations. Meshoe stuck with teaching for another four years, before devoting all his time and energy to the church.
In February 1980 he became one of Reinhard Bonnke’s associate evangelists. Seven years later Meshoe travelled to Shekinah Bible Institute in Kingsport, Tennessee in the US, where he completed his second year Theological Diploma.
Upon his return to South Africa in 1988, Meshoe founded his own church called Hope of Glory Tabernacle.
At the time, South Africa was experiencing violent upheaval as the dying breaths of apartheid sought to tear the promise of a democratic future asunder. Meshoe resolved to dedicate his energy to strengthen his congregation’s faith through prayer and kept an arm’s length from political rhetoric.
However, the impending transition which was about to spawn a new South Africa eventually managed to titillate Meshoe’s political interest. In the runup to the 1994 elections, the Reverend, along with devout members of his church, formed the ACDP.
Religion and governance
In December 1993, only a few months before South Africa’s first democratic election, Reverend Kenneth Meshoe founded the African Christian Democratic Party. The party’s mission statement was simple: the new South Africa should be founded on Christian principles, with religious leaders forming the frontrunners in national governance.
Despite canvassing votes from devout Christians, the party came in 7th position overall, only managing to scrape together 88,104 (0.45%) votes. Still, the party’s polling performance, although underwhelming, had afforded the ACDP two seats in the National Assembly.
However, following the 1994 elections, Meshoe sought to intensify his approach to politics, consolidating religious leaders and organisations in an attempt to gain more legislative clout.
By building on its original manifesto, which advocated religious freedom, a free market system, and human rights under a federal governmental system, the ACDP managed to increase its support base by more than 300%.
In the 1999 general election, the ACDP won seven seats in the national parliament and four in provincial legislatures, after receiving 228,975 votes – a massive increase compared to the previous polling results.
During the early 2000’s, support for the ACDP grew slightly, with Meshoe promoting staunch conservative Christian values, which resonated with deeply religious citizens, while marginalizing others.
Meshoe’s devout commitment to biblical ideologies, which have manifested in controversial public statements regarding homosexuals, abortion, AIDS and Israel, garnered scorn from civil societies and liberal organisation’s alike.
The 2014 general elections saw support for Meshoe’s party wane to 104,039 (0.57%) – it’s lowest levels in 20 years. The party fared even worse in the 2016 municipal elections. This loss of support translated to a loss of parliamentary power, whereby the ACDP currently occupies only three seats in the National Assembly.
However, despite its waning support, the party’s leader has remained resolute in his commitment to promoting Christian values within the often ‘unholy’ South African political landscape. While these values are sometimes shared by fellow politicians, many of Meshoe’s more ‘extreme’ policies have landed him in hot water.
Controversy around religious fundamentalism
In accordance with his strong Christian faith, Meshoe has often issued contentious statements which fall outside the bounds of social inclusivity.
Meshoe reaffirmed his staunch beliefs on issues regarding homosexuality, abortion and the and HIV/AIDS during a 2014 interview with the Mail & Guardian.
When asked, hypothetically, what he would do if he found out his child was homosexual, Meshoe replied:
“We would tell them why we think it is not the right thing to do, but obviously, it is your child. If the child insists on being [gay], you just have to accept it.
I’m not attracted to other men. I know it’s not healthy. I’m a married man, so I am not attracted to other men.
There is something called self-discipline and self-control. I know it’s wrong, and I would not do it.”
Meshoe’s statements lambasting homosexuality have caused widespread condemnation. The ACDP has firmly opposed same-sex marriage rights.
The ACDP, under Meshoe’s guidance, has always been against abortion. In a 2014 interview, Meshoe stated that even if a woman were to be impregnated as the result of a rape, abortion would not be justifiable.
Meshoe also advocated for HIV/AIDS to be regarded as a notifiable disease. The leader of the ACDP said that if his party were to be in power, the law would make disclosure of the disease compulsory. Despite the public outcry, Meshoe clarified his comments, saying:
“We believe that if families are properly guided, they will make the sick among them, including those living with HIV, receive care and compassion. We want families to care for the sick among them, including those who are HIV positive.
People who are HIV positive must tell their family. We do not use the word oblige. If [we are] obliged, we can change our position, we are not married to it.”
The latest row involving Meshoe came as a result of the ACDP’s fierce resistance to the Comprehensive Sexual Education (CSE) policy in the country’s school curriculum. The educational program, endorsed by Unesco, which is aimed at equipping teenagers with practical information relating to sexual health was labelled as dangerous by the party.
Meshoe, and the ACDP, have explicitly stated that issues regarding sexuality need to be addressed by parents and not by the state.
Meshoe has always argued against claims that Israel is an apartheid state. According to the Reverend, those who refer to Israel as an apartheid state trivialise the painful trauma of South Africa’s past.
Kenneth Meshoe, interesting facts
In 1994, Reverend Kenneth Meshoe was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Bethel Christian College of Riverside, California.
Reverend Doctor Kenneth Meshoe is also known as Rev, Mfundisi, and Mr. President to friends, family and supporters.
Meshoe is an avid supporter of Kaizer Chiefs soccer club.
Meshoe and his wife established a centre called Tshepo Women Help Centre which provides discreet HIV testing as well as counselling and information regarding sexual health.
Reverend Meshoe and his wife still run the Hope of Glory Tabernacle which they founded 20 years ago. The church now has 4 000 active members.