Katlehog man goes above and beyond to archieve academic successes

The founder of The Living Rock Church in Christ, Bishop Motlalepule John Matlala from Phooko Section, Katlehong, will obtain his fourth qualification in religious studies at the age of 88.

Matlala was studying ordaining at Team Impact Christian University (TICU) and he will be among the students who will be graduating, on November 24.

“I am very proud of myself. I found revelation. The more I continue with my studies the more I gain knowledge. This motivates me to enrol for a master’s degree,” said Matlala.

Matlala’s formal schooling journey in religious studies began in 1998 when he enrolled for three years at Timothy Training Institute, where he obtained his certificate and diploma in ministry.

“I returned to school in 2019. While my wife Albertina Matlala was doing her certificate in ministry, I was doing my bachelor’s degree in apostolic ministry at TICU, and the following year I did my honours degree. In 2021 my wife was studying ordaining, and so I decided to do it as well this year.”

Matlala said he was encouraged to continue with his studies because a church (New Apostolic Covenant Church) that he was a member of did not have a marriage council.

“This made the church struggle to unite couples in marriage,” he continued.

“The wedding pastors were not ordained members of the Christian faith that are qualified to perform wedding ceremonies.

“You cannot ordain people without the necessary knowledge and that is something a lot of churches are doing, especially in the township, and that is not right. You cannot be anointed by a person whose abilities are unknown to you. That is why we went to school to obtain this knowledge.”

However, he said learning in English did not make it easy for him to conclude his studies but he believes next year it will be more difficult as he will have to do research for his master’s degree.

“I grew up in the village. I did not get enough education. At TTI it was better because we could study in our home language but as I transported people to night school I started reading,” he further explained.

“I used the little skills I learnt to archieve what I have obtained now. I hardly slept. I read during the day and night, I would sleep around 20:00 and wake up at 01:00 to study until 04:00.

“I was doing 15 modules. My strategy was to finish two books per month. The course is easy, the books have self-assessment activities to test your knowledge, so by the time you have to write your exam are well prepared.”

Matlala was born in 1934 at Standerton, Mpumalanga. He moved to Katlehong in 1951 at Credi Section before moving to Phooko Section.

He got married to his second wife Albertina Matlala (70) in 1998 after his first wife passed away earlier that year.
His first marriage was blessed with two children, a girl and a boy who passed away. He was blessed with four children from his second marriage.

“My children also attend religious studies. God comes first in our family and they are gifted in preaching, praying, singing and prophecy.”

The graduation ceremony will be held at 18 Neels Road, Mimosa Park, Germiston.