The Cult Fighting Against Cannabis legalization has made breaking headlines for horrendous accusations. Major brand aQuellé bottled water tainted too in a scandal that’s only beginning to unravel.
Sometimes a tale has so many beginnings that it’s difficult to tell where to even start. The home of this story is the KwaSizabantu Mission nestled in the picturesque Valley of a Thousand Hills. Home to a community first founded in the 1960’s after an evangelic spiritual experience, it has since then become enormously successful in both its religious and business endeavors. Most notably for being the home of aQuellé bottled water.
Some truly heavy and hard to hear allegations have been unearthed by a recent News24 expose. A seven month investigation has revealed what appears to be a church of horrors. Those who have the heart and the stomach to watch the documentary will witness a trifecta of psychological, physical and sexual abuse claims. Some of which involved children as young as 5 years old. All carried out under the vale of fighting evil through a culture of fear and divine retribution. An investigation being carried out by the HAWKS regarding a possibly laundered R150 million is also raising a lot of eyebrows. While major retailers such as Game, Makro, Spar, Woolworths and Food Lover’s Market have already started pulling any related products from their shelves. Some major brands and events have however continued to support aQuelle.
Cult Fighting Against Cannabis
My first experience with this “cult” was live on a SABC Newsroom interview. A young and passionate lady from the Concerned Young People of South Africa organization sat opposite me. She valiantly made her case on why dagga was the devil and achieved viral fame. Little did I know that this was my first glimpse of a much bigger picture.
The alarm bells really started ringing a couple of years ago when The Traditional and Natural Health Alliance reported that bussed in anti-cannabis protestors outside court and leading attorneys against legalization inside court both had very close relationships with KwaSizabantu Mission. That’s when the smoke finally cleared and I realised that Concerned Young People of SA, Doctors for Life and KwaSizabantu Mission were working in a trinity.
Doctors for Life had taken it upon themselves to guard the country’s morality. They have been the most vocal opposition when it comes to cannabis legalisation. Never missing an opportunity to vilify the plant. If someone in the news has ever kind of told you that dagga is low key the devil, it was probably Doctors for Life. Their CEO, Dr Albu Van Eeden, has long had a very close and public relationship with KwaSizabantu Mission as they share a strategic partnership. As well as being a prominent preacher and brand ambassador for them. Possibly casting light on where some of their anti-cannabis funding is coming from and raising an awkward question. Is Doctors for Life complicit or entangled in any of these allegations?
This is just one of the many threads leading back to what is being described as a cult that has broken homes and ruined lives in its pursuit of a greater good. And that’s something that’s difficult to overlook. Not only because it shows the lengths that some will go to to create their own vision of the world. But also how little they will feel for you or I when it comes to preserving that precious vision.
It’s not all bad though?
A part of me has always respected the strength of conviction that the likes of Doctors for Life and Concerned Young People of South Africa posses, despite having many times being on the receiving end of it. I also admired the good work that they undoubtedly do. Now that same part of me however empathizes with them for building a castle of good intentions on the sand. And possibly also being victims. If there is one thing that the devil has taught me. It’s that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Whether any of the victims or accused will have their day in court remains to be seen. It may also all soon be forgotten news in what has been a turbulent year.
Always find it weird that Christians who claim that the earth is a perfect creation of a perfect God and at the same time through their actions also claim that God made a mistake when He made this plant (and some mushrooms).
It’s like there’s 2 contradictory sets of brainwashing living alongside each other and the cognitive dissonance does not register.
Hi William, Thank you for all your hard work from the millions of smokers and patients around the world keep up the amazing effort you inspire us all !
thanks for your information. I want more.
hi william. I once met you. It was interesting as whilst you are free to have your views and you do, as you say you admire at least effort that these groups put in. Which shows you are at least slightly more open than most to an objective view and that is admirable. Of course you are mistaken in the claims you make, would suggest that you visit and see for yourself. May I suggest that that you keep your article but do not make light of this man as you do at the top of your article as you will not benefit from that but it is sure to count against you.
Thanks David. Have tried to avoid slinging any mud in the article. Please note that I’m not making any claims. The accusers are featured in News24’s coverage, expose & documentary. Have linked all of them in the article for easy reference. Let’s please allow the victims who have and haven’t told their stories the chance to heal as much as one can from such traumatic experiences. It wouldn’t do any good to erase some possible truths about KwaSizabantu simply because they are too uncomfortable to bare.
Have personally experienced and witnessed some very negative interactions with DFL and CYPSA. But I don’t hold this against them.
What has been difficult to forget though is how deliberate they seem to be in not accepting anything that doesn’t fit their narrative. From focusing on very narrow and abstract information at the exclusion of all other reputable evidence. All the way to stalling the Pretoria High Court trial to such a point that it was practically a farce.
What also lingers is when the KwaSibantu protestors with their bottles of sponsored aQuelle water spent days shouting in our faces how dagga is the devil and will make people rape their mothers.
Would love to visit KwaSizabantu one day. But I doubt that they would be as tolerant of my lifestyle choices as I am of theirs.
Hi David
Willing to actually point out where specifically William is mistaken in the above as you say: “Of course you are mistaken in the claims you make”?
Perhaps you could substantiate your own, condescending and seemingly baseless, claim(s).
Cheers,
G
Was chatting to a writer this morning about faith/belief and religion. I have zero respect or admiration for hopefully oneday in the near future will be seen as a mental disease that has caused more hate and war in this world than sex, drugs or rockin roll x 420. If the allegations are true, may they rot in the hell that they tried to get away from in their miserable false lives.
Indeed Chris. It’s very bleak that this kinda thing is happening under the watch of such a prominent church. Personally have mixed feelings about it all. Have personally experienced 99% good with various religious interactions. Seems like its one of those things where people can and often do use it as a vehicle for their intentions. Both the good and the bad. And when people become invested financially/spiritually/emotionally in something, they can possibly prioritize the institution over all else. Becoming a culture of churchianity.
This may be something that many churches struggle with. Particularly ones that focus on helping the most desperate and vulnerable, inadvertently creating an environment in which abuse may well happen. When a church preserves its image by turning a blind eye to this or buries the victims in blame and guilt, it then becomes complicit in fostering a culture of abuse.
Let’s see if KwaSibantu have the conviction of their faith and actually do something. Or just sweep it under the pulpit rug.