On 6 March 2026, Mukhanyo Theological College celebrated another meaningful milestone as graduates gathered at its KwaMhlanga Campus to receive their qualifications. Among them was 54-year-old Thomas Mamba.
Mamba’s path to Mukhanyo began with a sense that God was calling him into deeper ministry. While searching for theological colleges online, he came across Mukhanyo for the first time. Something about the institution immediately resonated with him. “When I saw the name Mukhanyo, I knew this was the place where I needed to study,” he recalls. Soon afterwards he visited the Pretoria Campus, where he was interviewed by Dr Japie Malan. Following the interview, he was accepted to begin with a certificate programme.
What initially began as a plan to complete a single certificate gradually turned into a much longer academic and spiritual journey. After completing the one-year certificate, Mamba continued his studies and enrolled for a Bachelor of Theology degree, which he completed over the next three years. At the recent graduation ceremony he proudly received his BTh qualification, and he already has his sights set on continuing with postgraduate studies. His next step, he says, will be to pursue an Honours degree.
Yet for Mamba, his time at Mukhanyo was about far more than academic achievement. Having served as a pastor since 1996, planting churches and preaching for nearly three decades, he arrived at the college with considerable ministry experience. Even so, his studies challenged and reshaped his understanding of Scripture. “There were verses I believed I understood,” he explains, “but here I learned their true meaning.”
He describes Mukhanyo not merely as a place of study, but as a spiritual home where growth takes place on a deeper level. “It is not just a college,” he says. “You do not only come here to learn academic work. It becomes a place where you grow spiritually.” Mamba admits that when he first arrived, his intention had simply been to obtain a certificate. Instead, the experience led him to re-examine his approach to ministry and his own spiritual life. “I realised I needed to repent, to stop doing things my way and begin doing them the way Mukhanyo teaches according to God’s Word.”
The journey was not always easy. At times the academic demands felt overwhelming, and he considered giving up. During those moments, the encouragement he received from lecturers made a lasting difference. He expresses particular gratitude to Dr Malan, whose guidance and support helped him persevere. “There were times when I told him the work was too difficult and that I wanted to stop,” Mamba says. “But he inspired me to continue.”
Today, Mamba remains closely connected to the college community. He serves as a tutor at one of Mukhanyo’s local learning sites in Soshanguve, where he helps guide other students in their studies. It is a role he intends to continue, passing on what he himself has received.
Looking ahead, Mamba senses that a new chapter in his ministry is beginning. After graduation he plans to step away from the church where he currently serves and seek the direction God has for the next stage of his calling. “I want to follow God’s will,” he says. “If my spirit says yes to an opportunity, I will take it.”
For those considering theological training, Mamba’s message is clear: “Anyone eager to do God’s work should come to Mukhanyo. Here the conviction of God’s Word is not hidden. The college stands like a teacher and a guide in ministry.”
