Christian religious political leaders and the church in South Africa, 1994-2022: A discourse analysis

The article provides a discourse analysis of the perspectives of the Democratic Alliance, African National Congress, and the Economic Freedom Fighters on the role of the church and clergypersons in the political process. The paper also analyses the role of Christian political parties in the democratic dispensation. Our analyses cover 1994 to 2022. The aim of the article is to provide an analysis of the pastor-politician and the role of the church in politics. The article brings clarity, in part, by assessing the church and clergypersons as role players in the South African political setup. There seems to be a knowledge gap in political science and related social sciences regarding the role of pastor-politicians and the church in politics. Using a qualitative method of desktop reviews of relevant topical issues relating to the subject, the article intends to contribute to body of knowledge pertaining to the church as an institution in the political context. Our central thesis is: South Africa is a maturing secular state and clarity is required on the position of the church in the architecture of democracy.