THE MIRACLE OF PRAYER IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

My first encounter with “apartheid” was as a boy of 6. As I addressed the local workshop mechanic as “uncle”. He corrected me by saying “I’m not an uncle, I’m coloured”. Since then I realised that there are two types of people in our country “whites” and “blacks” whom are to be treated differently. Mature blacks referred to me as “basie” (little boss).

INITIAL UPRISINGS

I became aware, at age 15, of war clouds in South Africa. his was sparked by the news of the Sharpeville shootings. “On March 21, 1960. Without warning, South African police at Sharpeville, an African township of Vereniging, south of Johannesburg, shot into a crowd of about 5,000 unarmed anti-pass protesters, killing at least 69 people – many of them shot in the back – and wounding more than 200.” (Roiters.) 16 years later, on

16 June 1976, an uprising in Soweto hit the front pages of the news worldwide. The Soweto uprising was a series of demonstrations and protests led by black school children in South Africa. The police shot and killed at least 176 students (with some estimates ranging up to 700)

A CHANGE IN WORLD VIEW

During an Easter service in 1975 the saving power of the gospel of Jesus Christ totally transformed my world view. Since that day I thought nothing of reaching out to my fellow black citizens. I was also convicted by the Holy Spirit to become a-political. It was fifteen years later that I was moved to vote again in the 1990 special referendum where the electorate had to indicate if they agree with negotiations with the ANC.

PRAYER INTERVENTION IN THE BUSH WAR

South Africa was drawn into, what was called the “Bush war” that lasted from the middle 60s and was ended after the battle at the Lomba River in 1986. (- Also known as the battle at Quito-Cuanavale.)

The details of this war are edged permanently into my mind, thanks to an unexpected telephone call I received from a good friend just before the start of the main battle.

Brig-Genl. (then Colonel) Karl van Heerden was in command of the SA Air Force in Namibia. In his own words he told me: “We finished our final planning for this crucial battle. As we walked out of the operations room, my commander said that there is nothing more we can do now to add to the planning. It was then that the thought struck me that there is one more thing we can do… PRAY”

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The renowned picture of Hector Peterson, carried by his mother and accompanied by his sister. (Left)

THE MIRACLE OF PRAYER IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA

Karel’s call was basically to ask me, amongst others, to please arrange for prayer cover for this looming battle. Providentially over 250 pastors were gathered from all over the country for a conference at my home church that Thursday morning. My senior pastor, Ed Roebert, gave me permission to relate this prayer request to the gathered pastors. Within a few minutes the chapel was ablaze with fervent prayers, intersessions and appeals to the throne of God to intervene in this battle. On the Saturday, after the conference, all these pastors returned to their home churches and by the Sunday thousands of congregants stormed the gates of heaven with their further prayer requests.

After the battle, Karel related the following story to me. “Our Mirages were inferior compared to the more sophisticated Russian Mig fighters. We were further hampered by limited radar coverage that prevented us from doing conventional bombing over the enemy lines. We then employed a secret plan by which the aircraft approached the target at tree level and then pulled up in a sharp upward curve. At the apex of the curve the bombs were “looped” several kilometres before hitting the target with remarkable accuracy and the bombers then returned to base long before the enemy could spot them! Apart from this, our G5 cannons had the ability to hit the target over 40 kilometres away.

The MIG fighters, which approached on very high level, were on the outlook for the smoke of the G5 cannons. Inadvertently they mistook the smoke and dust caused by the explosion of our bombs for their target and caused great confusion and mayhem as they bombed their own lines!

Genl. Jannie Geldenhuis visited us for a debriefing and I also flied him to the Lomba River where the SA Artillery engaged with a Russian tank battalion. We used much lighter and vulnerable Ratel armed vehicles to destroy almost the entire tank division. As the General exclaimed “How did you achieve this?” Colonel Ferreira in charge replied “Only God could do this General” The Colonel also told the General that one of his men took control of a tank, still idling on the battle field, and towed a highly secret Russian ground to air system all the way back to the Republic for dismantling and inspection.”

During this battle, and the clean-up operations, 4,700 of the enemy died compared to 40 South Africans; 94 Russian tanks were wiped out, compared to 3 South African tanks and 9 MIG’s compared to 2 Mirages were lost in battle.

I was told, confidentially, that the Cuban generals were ordered back home by Fidel Castro to be executed before a firing squad.

The sterling success over the combined Kuban, Russian and FAPLA forces led to first round peaceful negotiations and the ending of the war.

The Battle at Cuito Cuanavale in 1987-88 was a crucial event of the Angolan Civil War and the South African Border War. It comprised a series of engagements between the Cuban-backed People's Armed Forces of Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) on one side, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) with help of the South African Defence Force(SADF) on the other side. It took place near the important military airfield of Cuito

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A recent photo of Karel van Heerden

THE MIRACLE OF PRAYER IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA

Cuanavale and the adjacent small town of the same name, in order to block a large-scale FAPLA attack against UNITA's primary operating bases at Jamba and Mavinga.[2]Following a number of failed attempts to take the settlements in 1986, eight FAPLA brigades mustered for a final offensive—Operação Saludando Octubre—in August 1987 with extensive auxiliary support from one of Angola's closest military allies, the Soviet Union. They were joined by a number of Cuban armoured and motorised units, who had become more directly committed to the fighting for the first time during Cuba's lengthy intervention in the civil war.[10] Soviet weapons deliveries to FAPLA were also accelerated, including over a hundred T-62 tanks and strike aircraft seconded from the Warsaw Pact's strategic reserve.

The campaign which followed culminated in the largest battle on African soil since World War II,[12] and according to some accounts, the second largest clash of African armed forces in history. FAPLA had poor discipline yet was well-equipped, and Cuban air power proved to be a decisive advantage over the SADF. Nevertheless, the advancing FAPLA forces were frequently encircled and destroyed in running clashes with the much nimbler South African armoured cars.[13][14] The FAPLA offensive was halted with heavy casualties, and abandoned shortly thereafter. [1] - WIKEPEDIA

TERRORISM IN SA

After the “Bush war” It seemed as if terrorism in South Africa increased and a time marked by violent, terrible and fearful intrusions in the history of South Africa followed.

My life was personally shaken with the news of the Church street car bomb on 20 May 1983 by Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC), in Church street, Pretoria at 4:30pm on a Friday. 19 Civilians were killed and 217 wounded. This was followed by a number of terrorist attacks in public places, but none as brutal as the shooting and bombing of The Saint James Church in Kennilworth, Cape Town, South Africa, on 25

July 1993 by four terrorists of the Azanian People's Liberation Army. 11 Worshippers were killed and 58 wounded.

People, mainly from the Inkata Zulu faction, who disagreed with the ANC revolution were executed in the most brutal and satanic method of “neck-lacing”, a method whereby a motor tyre was thrown over the victim and set alight with the aid of petrol.

RELEASING OF NELSON MANDELA PRECEDED BY A DIVINE INTERVENTION

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THE MIRACLE OF PRAYER IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA

During 1990 Nelson Mandela was released from prison which ushered in the way for peaceful negotiations between the ANC and the National minority government.

1994 Was hailed world-wide as the miracle of South Africa as the country reached a peaceful transition of power with Roelf Meyer and Cyril Ramaposa as the chief negotiators.

This miracle was preceded by a very tense period. The right-winged Afrikaners, under the capable leadership of Genl Konstance Viljoen and Min Gatcha Buthelezi, leader of the Zulu Inkata Freedom party would have no part of this negotiations and were planning a civil war. Internationally the people were fearing a blood bath in South Africa. The American and English governments advised their embassies to be ready to leave the country in case of civil war.

By God’s grace an angel visited a police Colonel, Johan Botha, in his home in Nelspruit one evening in March 1994 while praying for our country. The angel instructed him to tell the nation to pray. In desperation he burst out in tears, objecting that “no one will listen to me”.

The angel responded lovingly “what do you prefer, rivers of tears or rivers of blood?”

After this episode a dear friend of mine and at the time journalist at the “Transvaler” newspaper got ear of this visitation and contacted the Colonel. The article that he wrote as a result of the interview, one month before the general election, was divinely instrumental to ignite a huge prayer movement throughout South Africa.

The following episode tells one story of how God prevented a blood bath as an answer to prayer:

Out of desperation the government invited Mr Harry Kissinger to stage a last minute negotiations between Inkatha, the right wing Afrikaners and the government to be part of the general election, the next week. This meeting took place in the Sheraton hotel in Church Street, Pretoria. After a little more than a day Mr Kissinger left the negotiations unresolved, for America and most of the delegates left with him. As a last minute attempt, the well-known Rev Michael Cassidy approached the only black man, a professor from Africa, to re-draft the proposed agreement, which he did in record time.

When they phoned Min Buthelezi he informed them that he is already at Lanseria airport for an appointment in Durban. He told them that they are welcome to come to the airport but that he cannot guarantee that he will still be there at their arrival.

Rev Cassidy and his group rushed to the airport, only to discover that Buthelezi’s VIP-jet had already departed. As this disappointed delegation left the departure hall, they were informed that the jet was on its way back!

They were able to present Min Buthelezi with a new draft of the agreement, which he promised to read.

The delegation were told that some instruments of this brand new jet started to mal-function, which demands it to go to the nearest air-port - which happened to be Lanseria.

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THE MIRACLE OF PRAYER IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA

Min Buthelezi read through the draft agreement in the VIP room of the Kings park stadion in Durban, while a mass prayer rally for a peaceful outcome to the elections took place. Something changed in his heart and he decided to accept the terms on behalf of Inkatha.

Since the ballot papers were already printed, the government had to print a sticker with the Inkatha Freedom Party emblem to be added to the millions of papers!

The next week a peaceful election was conducted and Pres. Nelson Mandela ushered in a new era in the history of our “rainbow” nation.

A CORRUPT REIGN ENDED BY PRAYER

Our country almost lost it’s “true north” under the corrupt leadership of Pres. Jacob Zuma.

Calling for a million South Africans from every part of the country to gather together to call on the Lord for peace, justice and hope in the country, Angus Buchan urged viewers of his special video announcement to cancel every other meeting on that day and make sure to be at the prayer day.

“The

question many

people are asking is: Where exactly will the prayer event take place? All that can be said at this stage is that it will be happening on a farm in the Bloemfontein area. Angus Buchan and members of his team will be looking at some 15 farms tomorrow (Friday March 3) which have been offered to him by their owners for use on the day. Buchan will announce the venue as soon as possible. “I really believe this is the last chance that we will have in South Africa to bring normality back to this beloved nation,” Buchan said in the video clip which followed another special video announcement released yesterday in which he promised to make an announcement today after the Lord had spoken to him during his run yesterday morning, saying: “It is time!”. In yesterday’s clip he also responded positively to another viral video clip released yesterday in which a farmer said South Africans were waiting for Buchan to call the nation together to pray.” (Google)

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A MIRACLE CAME TRUE. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS AGO ANGUS ANNOUNCED THAT A MASS PRAYER RALLY WITH A MILLION PEOPLE WILL GATHER AT AN UNNAMED FARM NEAR BLOEMFONTEIN. IT ALL CAME TOGETHER JUST AS PROCLAIMED!

THE MIRACLE OF PRAYER IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA

“I have never been so excited in my life,” Buchan says in his announcement. “We are tired of people taking the law into their own hands. “We are going to call upon The Lord to bring justice, peace and hope to our beloved South Africa.

I was part of this epic day in the life of South Africa. The nation were crying out for righteousness and an end to corruption, crime and murders on innocent people in our land. We travelled through the night from Pretoria by bus to participate in this event. Out of nothing, a gathering place emerged on a farm near Bloemfontein. A speaker system, that have the capacity to address more than 1,000,000 people, were erected as well as water points, roads, first aid, traffic control, security, ablutions and a stage… all in six weeks time, from scratch! A budget of R44,000,000 and thousands of volunteers were also provided. (An operation like this would normally take one to two years to plan and prepare). No collection was made or registration money was asked.

People from all walks of life, colour and creed humbled themselves and repented of their own sins. Thereafter all confessed the sin of our own nation and asked that the Lord would deliver us from evil. At

the end of the prayer meeting, from nowhere, a whirl wind appeared in front of the stage, drawing a plume of dust with three red, white and blue balloons on top, hundreds of meters straight up in the air.

We were reminded afterwards that a sign that burnt sacrifices in biblical times were accepted by God was when the smoke went straight up.

The large crowd orderly dispersed at 17:00 and no papers or tins were left behind.

We had to wait in the bus for 5 hours for the traffic to disperse!

“This may have been the largest prayer meeting in Southern African history. There was definitely over a million people present. Apparently it was closer to two million. I will update once the

number is confirmed by the organisers. There were thousands praying with us around the country and overseas as well.” (Julia Jane)

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Even the ANC joined in prayer

THE MIRACLE OF PRAYER IN THE HISTORY OF SOUTH AFRICA

9 Days after this historical event Pres Jacob Zuma arrived as main speaker at a COSATO meeting in Bloemfontein on Workers day. The crowd disrupted the meeting and told him in soccer style to go. The meeting ended in chaos and the President was whisked off in his official car without delivering the speech! Beeld reported in their

main article the next day (2 May) something like this was unimaginable until then! Coincidence?

MASS PRAYER USHERED IN A NEW SEASON IN OUR NATION 297 days after the epic prayer-event, former President Jacob Zuma announced his resignation with immediate effect!PRETORIA – “Former president Jacob Zuma addressed

the nation from the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Wednesday In a 30-minute national television address, Zuma said he had "come to the decision to resign as president of the Republic with immediate effect"."I have only asked my party to articulate my transgressions

and the reason for its immediate instruction that I vacate office," CNN. (Left) President Cyril Ramaphosa gets a standing ovation on 16/02/18 as he quotes Hugh Masekela's song 'Thuma Mina'. Ramaphosa quoted the song Thuma Mina (Send Me). The lyrics of the song include: “I wanna be there when the people start to turn it around/When they triumph over poverty/I wanna be there when the people win the battle against AIDS/I wanna lend a hand/Send me.” – (Paul Herman, News24)

CLOSING NOTE: God is alive and attentive to the prayers of his people.” 2ChRON 7:14 if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their and.” “He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ,.” (Phil 1:6) God determines the destiny of nations and will establish and remove kings at His good will. – Servaas de Kock

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