Can a Christian Vote for the DA?

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Evan Cantrell

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

On 13 October 2025, the Democratic Alliance, also known as the DA, participated in the “Joburg Pride” march, celebrating what the DA’s Rainbow Alliance called “the beauty, resilience, and strength of Africa’s LGBTQIA+ community”.

The largest party in South Africa is the ANC, whose policies and actions have brought South Africa to its knees. The party most known for resisting the ANC in ways that have achieved practical results for the good of South Africa is the DA. The DA stands for the free market and against the ANC’s hyper-racial and socialist policies.

However, the DA does not oppose abortion, allowing the murder of innocents to continue unabated. It proudly supports homosexual relationships in every form, contributing to the breakdown of the families which form the bedrock of society. Scripture clearly describes these positions (also endorsed by the ANC) as bringing God’s judgment on a nation. The DA government in Cape Town also distinguished itself in the Covid-19 era by stringently enforcing “lockdown” measures.

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What Does A Trump Win Mean for Christians in Africa?

Posted on November 19, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– David de Bruyn

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Donald Trump is a divisive figure. Reactions to his victory in the U.S. Presidential election are usually polarised: some seem to celebrate it, and others appear to mourn it. But what will a Donald Trump presidency mean for Africa, and for Christians in Africa in general?

Some have pointed out that many American Christians voted for Donald Trump not for what he was, but for what he was not. In the last four years, the Democratic Party has pushed further left, endorsing and promoting aggressively progressive agendas. These include a radically pro-abortion stance, the promotion and protection of transgenderism in sport, public life and even in families, an anti-Israel stance and a tolerance of incipient anti-semitism. The Biden Administration’s attitude towards the border and immigrants revealed a hostility towards national sovereignty and a friendliness towards globalism.

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Dissecting Democracy: Is the ‘Right’ to Choose Right?

Posted on September 5, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Mark Christopher

The audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Reflecting on South Africa’s elections three months ago, I am reminded of how much we hear the word “democracy” in South Africa. The preamble of the South African Constitution includes the clause that says South Africa will be “a society based on democratic values.” The real question for Christians is, how biblical is democracy? Winston Churchill famously said, “Many forms of Government have been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…”

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Take Note Before You Vote

Posted on May 14, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Malamulo Chindongo

Audio version of this article is available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

In a few days, South Africans will head to the polls to cast their votes in the National elections; making a mark on that ballot paper, for the political party they believe should run the affairs of the country at the national and provincial level. How should Christians be thinking amidst the many discussions regarding the upcoming elections?

What we will consider here does not apply to the elections in South Africa alone but to all other nations considering elections as well. God’s people must carefully explore our role in the way national leaders are appointed and how we can relate with them. Some of our frustration with our political leaders stems from the fact that we ask from them that which only God can supply. Christians ought to relate to the civil government biblically. If we can apply biblical principles and instructions we will do our souls a great deal of service and escape unnecessary grievances against our politicians. We must change, from being those who are antagonistic toward civil government to those who love and “seek the prosperity” of our nations. (Jeremiah 29:7).

In spite of all the evil we see in politics and with our politicians, we must bring to remembrance these three facts about civil government, especially as we go to the ballot in the coming days:

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Will Your Vote “Fix the Country”?

Posted on April 9, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Andrew Zekveld

Audio version of this article available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

I still remember one of the more tense political engagements of my earlier years as a pastor. It was in the days leading up to a national election in the country of South Africa. The parties involved in that particular political fight were not political—instead, it was a husband and his wife, each roping the pastor in for self-vindication. One spouse argued that a Christian’s vote should be determined by moral issues while the other argued for economic and political freedoms and improved service delivery.

What should the determining factors be in influencing a Christian’s political vote?

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Voting in Hope: Do Elections Solve Crime?

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Paul Schlehlein

–– Warrick Jubber

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For those living in Africa, crime is an unrelenting reality that significantly impacts life through the constant threat of violence. Despite the promises of politicians, criminals are exploiting ineffective governance in many African countries to target the weak and vulnerable. Against the hope of the victims and the longings of Christians who understand God’s standards of righteousness and justice, Africa seems to be plunging into greater depths of criminality.

According to the 2023 Global Organised Crime Index, criminality is on the rise in Africa with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, and South Africa leading not only the continent but also breaking into the top ten worldwide.

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TARIF: Zimbabwe and the Biblical Basis for Free Elections

Posted on August 29, 2023 by Paul Schlehlein

The Africa Review in Five highlights African current affairs from a Christian perspective. Listen and subscribe through Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Today is Tuesday, August 29^th, A.D. 2023. This is The Africa Review in Five, written by Paul Schlehlein and presented by Yamikani Katunga.

Zimbabwe and the Biblical Basis for Free Elections

Recent presidential elections in Zimbabwe have once again been encumbered by accusations of blatant and gigantic fraud. The official polls have declared Emmerson Mnangagwa the winner, making him president for another five years. This will be his second term in office.

On Saturday, Zimbabwe’s Information Ministry stated the following: “The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has announced the 2023 presidential election results. His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner with 2,350,711 votes, consisting of 52.6% of the vote, followed by Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party who scored 1,906,734, which is 44% of the vote.”

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