MGIJIMA, Enoch

Enoch Mgijima founded the S African ‘Israelites in 1912 – a liberation movement against external oppression by people identifying themselves as African Jews. They observed the Sabbath, celebrated the Passover and as Chosen People expected delivery from white man’s bondage. They also dismissed the New Testament component of the Bible as a European forgery. Instead they were quashed with a massacre by the military power of the state. Thereafter successive governments were suspicious of religious interference in politics. Experience globally suggests that by definition deepest beliefs do impact on politics, as on social and moral action generally. Whilst recognising the principle of freedom of religious belief, public education can legitimately encourage open scholarly scrutiny of the nature and basis of religions. Without this both believer and unbeliever suffer from their relative ignorance,

Life

• Biography of Mgijima

• 'The curious case of Enoch Mgijima'

Writings