Inspirational pastor has community at heart
Pastor Ndlela also had an illustrious educational career.
Legacies are everlasting, especially ones that leave an impact on the lives of others. This is the case with Pastor Nkosinamandla Ndlela of Bhomela.
A former principal of Makhanda Secondary in Bhomela and head pastor at Bhethani Church of Christ, Ndlela’s legacy at the school can only be matched by his impact in the community.
Upon retiring from his principal’s post in 2019, Ndlela assumed the role of chairman in “Umbombano”, a small trust that assists all the neighbouring families in the event of the death of a member.
“It’s a beautiful initiative that we have to assist all our members. We currently have 35 families within the trust that are beneficiaries. We come together and put aside money to donate,” Ndlela said.
He also serves as the treasurer of the KwaNdwalane Accountability Council of Churches (KACC), an organisation that assists churches with any internal issues in the Bhomela, Bhetani, Nyandezulu, Murchison and Bhobhoyi areas.
“We also run sessions educating young men and women on gender-based violence (GBV), as well as various other social ills,” he said.
Pastor Ndlela also sells eggs and chickens to the community, and more often than not donates eggs or a chicken to neighbours in need.
Pastor Ndlela also had an illustrious educational career.
He began his journey in education in 1978 as an unqualified grade seven teacher, and attained his qualification in 1981 at the University of Zululand, before enrolling in the BA honours programme in 1984.
The move to the South Coast came in 1998, when he took up the principal’s position, as well as an Afrikaans and Life Orientation teacher at Mkhanda. Pastor Ndlela was instrumental in making changes at the school in his 21-year tenure as principal, and introduced new infrastructure, and grades 11 and 12 in 2001 and 2002, grades that were previously non-existent.
Under his leadership, the school also managed to grow from only two offices, to seven as well as a reception area. New fencing was erected around the school to enforce discipline amongst learners.
“Now I want to enjoy my retirement, with my family all while assisting my extended family, the community through our initiatives, programmes and the church,” said Ndlela.
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