March/April 1999

The 2nd democratic elections in South Africa. Communist candidates head the ANC list. Biblical Issues Voter's Guide.

Dear Friends,

We wish you a happy Easter and God's richest blessings. Again we marvel at the uniqueness of our religion, namely that we serve a living God who forgives our sin and makes us righteous before Him, not because of our own endeavours, works and achievements (in which other religions put their trust) but by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus suffered and died for us. He forgave us our sins for His sake. He gave us righteousness and eternal life as a gift. The Apostle Paul says: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the.redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Rom. 3:23-24) - "To the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." (Rom. 4:5) Indeed, our lives, our culture, our history, are built up on the Resurrection of Christ. Our freedom of heart and soul, of society and nation, come from- Him. For "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Cor. 3:17)

Today it is no secret that the world thinks it can manage without Christ. Men want to justify themselves by their own works. Almost everywhere, and especially at the leadership level, they see themselves as autonomous, independent of Gods grace. The godless push themselves forward, even in South Africa. - On 2 June 1999, the second 'democratic' elections will be held. The ruling African National Congress (ANC has issued a candidates' list which indicates that the future State President, Thabo Mbeki, will surround himself almost entirely with Communists. Within the proportional electoral system, the most important government offices will be given to Communists. The weekly, Die Afrikaner, states that 70% of the first 30 candidates on the ANC election list are members of the Communist Party (SACP): Jacob Zuma (Nr 2) is presently Vice-President of the ANC, Steve Tshwete (Nr 8) Minister of Sports, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi (9) Minister of Social Welfare und deputy chairman of the SACP, Derek Hanekom (11) Minister of Agriculture, Gill Markus (12) deputy Minister of Finance, Frene Ginwala (13) Speaker of Parliament, John Gomomo (14) President of COSATU, Dullah Omar (15) Minister of Justice, Jay Naidoo (16) Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Mohamed Valli Moosa (18) Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Sydney Mufamadi (19) Minister of Safety and Security, Jeff Radebe (20) Minister for Public Works, Tony Yengeni (21) Chief Whip, Ronnie Kasrils (22) Deputy Minister of Defence, Limpho Hard (23) Chairman of Correctional Services and widow of the assassinated Chris Hani, then General Secretary of the SACP, Sam Shilowa (24) General Secretary of COSATU, Charles Nqakula (25) Head of the National Intelligence Service, Jeremy Cronin (26) Sec. Gen. of the SA Communist Party, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula (29) National Intelligence Service, and Alec Erwin (30) Minister for Trade and Industry and member of the Central Committee of the SACP. 1)

"Among those who are not described as Communists, " writes Die Afrikaner, "is Thabo Mbeki (1), (Deputy State President) although, for strategic reasons, he resigned in 1989 as a member of the politbureau of the SACP and as a member - this was in view of the political role which he was appointed to play; Nkosazana Zuma (3), (Minister of Health) former wife of Jacob Zuma, one of the most senior Communists in the land; Trevor Manuel (Nr. 5), (Minister of Finance) a former member of the (ANC-aligned United Democratic Front) UDF Peter Mokaba (17), (Dep. Minister of the Environment) who made a strange revelation about Communists in an ANC-document, and Lindiwe Sisulu (27), (Deputy Minister of Home Affairs) with her family history of Communists. Those who are recognised as members without Communist ties are Pallo Jordan (6), Terror Lekota (7), Winnie Mandela (10) and Stella Sigcau (28). This means that, among the first 30, there are only four who have no Communist ties. "

The article continues: "On the list following the first 30 there are just as many Communists, but because many are not known it is not possible to determine whether they in fact have Communist ties or not. Among those who are definite Communists are Zola Skwyiya (31), Philip Dexter (32), Essop Pahad (34), Aziz Pahad (36),Shepherd Mdladlana (40), Joe Nhlanhla (41), Penuel Maduna (44), Yunus Carrim (48) and Willie Hofmeyr (52). - The meaning of this for the coming Mbeki-Government is frightening. There has long been speculation that Thabo Mbeki will rule much more radically than Nelson Mandela... " 1) - On Friday, 26.3.99, Thabo Mbeki said on the SABC-TV news: "We are at the starting point of a new journey." On 'Face the Nation', SABC-TV 28.3.99, he said: "We have to speed up the process of change, We must be able to move faster forward."

Last year the Deputy State President, Thabo Mbeki, and 36 other leading members of Government did not receive amnesty for their "struggle" activities. Their amnesty applications were rejected because they were based on the principle of collective amnesty which is not included in the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act. The weekly, Die Patriot, describes the way out of their dilemma: "Instead of leaving themselves open to prosecution (otherwise why did they apply for amnesty), they simply want to change the Act, " it reports. They will thus avoid having to undergo rigorous public hearings as have so many others. " 2) More recently still, a further 79 amnesty applications of leading ANC members were refused. 3) This means that over 100 ANC leaders, including Government Ministers, are under a cloud of guilt, which is expiated neither by punishment nor by amnesty.

Principles for Using your Vote Few people can be ignorant of the legacy of Communism in other countries. This political system has caused the death of 160 million people throughout the world. In fact, Communism is an atheist religion with a disastrous morality. Faced with this, South Africa, indeed, is in a perilous position - so much so that all Christians are called to great responsibility. Rev Dr Peter Hammond, Director of United Christian Action, has issued a list of 'Biblical Principles for Using your Vote'- which reads: "On 2 June 1999, South Africans who have registered will have the responsibility of electing representatives for provincial and national government. How we exercise this right and responsibility of voting will have far reaching consequences for almost every area of our lives. Concerning the role of Christians in social and political matters, the Bible instructs us to:

PRAY - 'I urge, then, first of all that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for... all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.' (I Tim. 2:1-2)
REPENT - 'If my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.' (2 Chronicles 7:14)
EXPOSE EVIL - 'Have nothing to do with fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.' (Ephesians 5:11)
IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY - 'See the trouble we are in: Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and we will no longer be in disgrace.'Neh 2:17
SEEK JUSTICE - 'Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice...' (Isaiah 1: 16-17)
OPPOSE UNGODLY RULERS - 'You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting...' (Daniel 5:27)
UPHOLD CHRISTIAN STANDARDS - 'You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.' Matthew 5:13)
DISCIPLE THE NATIONS - 'Make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded...' (Matthew 28:19-20)
SELECT GOD-FEARING LEADERS - 'Select capable men from all the people - men who fear God; trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain - and appoint them as officials...' (Exodus 18:2 1). " 4)

"The American Christian author Gary DeMar says, that today there is a kind of "Bible-phobia". Even Christians apply God's Word only to private faith and morality - not to the world, and if so, then only in general terms. -"While the Bible may be believed in principle, " he says, " it is too often denied in practice. When we are told that 'Christians must address issues in society,' the following disclaimer is often given., 'but not institutions.' How does one address issues but not institutions since issues arise within institutions and cannot be properly addressed unless one has some idea of what an institution in God's world should be like? The key to fighting any evil is to understand how God's world works. Without that understanding there is no possibility of changing anything. There must be a model. That model must come from the person who designed the model. God has designed the world, and the Bible is the owner's manual on how it Works. " 5)

The people who can change South Africa must be God-fearing, God-obedient people who apply His Law, who can not be bought, whose word is their bond, who put character above wealth, who are honest in small things as in great, who are true to their friends, who are not ashamed to stand for Truth when the truth is unpopular, who can say "No!" when all the world is ready to say "yes". Has South Africa got such people? Yes, by God's grace she has! Faced with a godless ideology and all its works, we must pray that the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ will be ready with Biblical answers for millions of people ready to follow the light of the Gospel of grace.

May God bless you richly,
D. Scarborough.

Footnotes: I - Die Afrikaner, Kommuniste oorheers ANC-lyste, 19-25 February, 1999;
2. Die Patriot, Aninasty -to be or not to be? 12.3.99
3. Die Burger. Amnestie geweier aan n6g 79 van ANC. 7.4.99;
4. Ucanews 1/99, United Christian ALtion, PO Box 23632, Claremont, 7735 , Tel. (021) 689-4480 ,
5. Gary DeMar, You've Heard it Said, 1991, PAL Wolgemuth & Hyatt Inc, Brentwood,Tennessee.