Feeling ‘Illuminated’
New Showmax doccie delves into sometimes murky world of alternative religious groups
Gripping international documentaries have chronicled the devastating consequences of chilling cults which descended into mass suicide, murder or sexual assault on minor girls — and now a compelling new documentary will focus on non-mainstream religious groups in SA.
The Illuminated, which starts on Showmax on Wednesday (March 6), devotes an episode to an Eastern Cape church — the Mancoba Seven Angels Ministries — whose worshippers infamously murdered five police officers and robbed them of firearms in Ngcobo in 2018.
A police raid and shoot-out followed and seven people in the compound died.
It is believed that women and young girls were used as sex slaves at the compound, which was run by seven Mancoba brothers.
The series also explores The Church of Scientology and Israelvisie, whose followers believe they are the direct descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The finale looks into how extreme religious beliefs can drive people to commit horrific acts, through the story of Hardus and Nicolette Lotter.
The Lotters were convicted of murdering their parents at the encouragement of Nicolette’s boyfriend, Matthew Naidoo, who the court found had manipulated the siblings into believing he was the third son of God.
“There’s a saying that you shouldn’t talk about religion or politics in polite company,” says series director Wynand Louw, head of content at POP24 which is producing the series.
“But growing up around religion is something that almost all South Africans have in common.”
The Weekender asked The Illuminated director Wynand Louw about unusual belief systems and what drives people to follow these movements.
What is the concept behind ‘The Illuminated’?
The Illuminated explores different non-mainstream belief systems throughout SA and tries to give viewers a new perspective on these groups and movements.
How did you choose which belief
systems were covered?
There are many non-mainstream groups and movements throughout SA and the world, which made the selection process very difficult. We looked for a balance of well-known and lessknown groups who have different views about belief. We also looked at which groups and movements the public are sceptical of and whether the scepticism is just.
What do you think attracts people to these churches/cults?
We all have a fundamental need of belonging, safety and security. These groups and movements often provide members with a sense of community and a communal goal for that community.
Historically it is not only vulnerable people who blindly follow gurus and their outrageous instructions. Why do you think
such an intellectual and socioeconomic range of people give up rational thought and essentially become brainwashed?
Belief and logic are difficult to equate. People join these groups and movements for a multitude of reasons.
We spoke with doctors, lawyers, academics and entrepreneurs who were or are still part of these groups and movements.
If a group or movement is able to connect with an individual on an emotional, spiritual or belief level, rationality and critical thinking are often not considered.
Do you think leaders of some of these groups set out to defraud or take advantage of their followers or does the extreme power they hold corrupt them?
I do not think any of the groups or movements we spent time with started with malicious intent.
Power and money easily corrupt people and the goals of the groups and movements slowly change over time.
Which belief struck you as the most bizarre, extreme or dangerous?
After spending close to a year with these different groups, no belief struck me as bizarre. Any belief can be painted to look bizarre — mainstream and non-mainstream.
When violence becomes a tool for a group or movement to spread or bolster their beliefs it becomes dangerous.
The Seven Angels Ministry is one of a few groups where violence became an expectation and a means to continue holding power.
As a society we can all agree that a belief system that encourages violence is bizarre, extreme and dangerous.
Why did you find the Seven Angels
Ministries compelling? Would you say they were essentially a religious gang? Did you manage to interview any of them or speak to any survivors?
There’s a saying that you shouldn’t talk about religion or politics in polite company. But growing up around religion is something that almost all South Africans have in common
The story of The Seven Angels Ministries is shocking, upsetting and extreme. It is a story that needs to be told as both a warning for what can happen when leaders gain too much power and wealth, as well as a cautionary tale about how easily congregations and members can be misled.
Classifying The Seven Angels Ministries as a “religious gang” has some merit, but this classification places too much emphasis on the violence that took place.
The Seven Angels Ministries was responsible for so much pain, suffering and exploitation apart from the violence, that solely focusing on the violence avoids the bigger conversation about how a group like this was able to get a foothold and why they were allowed to operate without any government or official intervention.
We spoke with former members and people close to the Mancoba family, as well as officials and officers involved in the Ngcobo killings.
Through the ages many cults are simply a cover for women and minor girls to be raped and subjugated. Did you find this?
Sexual abuse rates are high across the board in SA, but this wasn’t the core focus of the series. Sexual abuse can be used as a tool to force women and girls into submission, and, within some high control groups, is normalised so that it’s recognised as abuse only once the women and girls leave the group. It is a truly heinous act, but not something that came up prominently in The Illuminated.
During the making of this series did any former believers share any regret for being part of an extreme religious group and what they lost in the process?
Most of the former members expressed regret for joining these groups and movements. Quite a few people were embarrassed and angry about their past decisions, but most former members also told us about their good experiences.