Deputy President Mashatile to attend Universal Church Good Friday service in Johannesburg, South Africa

At the invitation of Bishop Marcelo Pires, Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile is scheduled to attend the Amandla Ngawethu Good Friday church service of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. The notice gives the date of the service as Friday, 3 April 2026.

The Deputy President has been tasked by the President with leading government’s engagement with inter-faith communities across South Africa, in his role as a champion of the country’s social cohesion and nation-building initiatives.

The 2026 theme, “The Family at the Foot of the Cross,” focuses on strengthening the family unit and empowering communities to break cycles of violence, abuse, conflict and social fragmentation. The notice says the event also highlights the role of faith-based organisations in promoting social cohesion, crime prevention and community resilience. Breaking cycles of violence is a call to peacemaking (Matthew 5:9).

The notice says Mr Mashatile has, in this role, travelled widely across the country and worshipped with various religious communities, including Muslim, Hindu, Christian and African Churches congregations. It states that this will be the first time he attends a UCKG Easter service in his capacity as Deputy President.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Gauteng MEC for Social Development Faith Mazibuko will also attend, along with senior government officials.

Media are invited to attend and cover the event on Friday, 3 August 2026, from 10:00, with arrival from 08:00. The notice gives the venue as Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg. This date conflicts with the 3 April 2026 date given for the service earlier in the same notice. Journalists are asked to RSVP to Ms Tshiamo Selomo on 066 118 1505 by the end of the following day. Media enquiries may be directed to Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President, on 066 195 8840, or to Ms Nametso Mofokeng, UCKG Spokesperson, on 082 478 5941.

Source: Read the original report