Ha-Mavhungu - Limpopo’s second largest church, the United African Apostolic Church (UAAC), is one of the congregations that embraces heritage of diverse cultures, says Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.
“As we celebrate our heritage this month, it is important that we embrace our unity in diversity. The United African Apostolic Church is one church that embraces heritage of diverse cultures.
“It has blended many of African heritage like faith healing, with complementary features from African culture and tradition and predominantly make use of the African drum and rhythmic circular dance as tools for meditating and praying.
“As we celebrate heritage month it is imperative to acknowledge the role that the Christian community played in South Africa towards building and enhancing social cohesion,” she said.
Minister Muthambi was speaking at the annual general conference at the church headquarters at ha-Mavhunga village on Sunday.
The church developed from the Pentecostal missionary origins with African beliefs, hence many congregants come as far as Tanzania, Botswana and Zimbabwe for the annual general conference.
“It could be said that the moral and ethical values have always guided the founders of our nations such as Josiah Gumede, Inkosi Albert Luthuli, the first black African to receive the noble-peace prize, John Dube and Sol Plaatje along with chiefs, and the founder of this church, Bishop Matsea Paulos Mureri.
Minister Muthambi said the UAAC and the African National Congress (ANC) were founded in the same year to advance the struggle for African people in the continent.
“History tells us that good organisations were established 100 years back, but the best institutions which includes this church were in fact founded in 1912, this is the same year that the ANC was formed.
“We can perhaps argue that the UAAC and the ANC were founded in the same year to advance the struggle for African people in the continent,” she said.
Vhavenda King Toni Mphephu Ramabulana and his traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, Dr Mathole Motshekga and Moses Tseli, Limpopo Health MEC, Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Black Leopards boss, David Thidiela, also attended the church’s annual general conference. - SAnews.gov.za
