Clothing donated to schoolchildren

GARDEN ROUTE DISTRICT NEWS - Mossel Bay pastor Johandré Potgieter has sponsored clothes for children at two schools in town and plans to sponsor more. He handed these over on 24 June.

He has done this through his non-profit company.

Potgieter said: "It's a yearly project. Last year we fed 2 000 people in die Mossel Bay area, Albertinia, Brandwag and Oudtshoorn.

"This year we focused on donating winter school clothes."

Potgieter said he received thousands of messages from people saying they needed winter school clothes for their children.

Potgieter also has an evangelical ministry. "Thousands of people come to our events," he said.

Good News Association is his non-profit company, while his events are called Jou Nuwe Begin. His charity work falls under his Voer my Volk project.

Potgieter has about 150 000 followers on Facebook. Mossel Bay born and bred, he believes it is right to focus on the needs of his own community first.

He travels all over in South Africa, Switzerland and Germany usually, but with the lockdowns currently, he is now only travelling in SA.

Potgieter says: "I am a member of the Kingdom Culture church fellowship in Oudtshoorn."

He says he has financial partners from all over the world - Australia, New Zealand and South Africa - in his ministry. "Because it is a non-profit company, many give donations."

His events are free.

Potgieter, aged 27, entered fulltime ministry when he was 20 years old. "After school, I did tent meeting and preached the gospel in poor areas.

"The Bible says the church of Jesus is not only called to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth, but to feed the hungry and clothe the naked. We must show Jesus by generosity.

"We try to be a blessing as far as we can. We believe that charity starts at home. We send finances everywhere in the country and support lots of families.

"We gave food parcels away in Brandwag and Sonskynvallei last year. They are very big food parcels and can feed a family of four or five for a month."

Last year clothes, money and food were also donated to families of children who attend Ruiterbos Primary School and a soup kitchen in KwaNonqaba was supported.

Pastor Johandré Potgieter (right) with Park Primary School principal Daan du Toit.