New Charismatic Movement in South Africa: Flourishing leaves, withering fruit

Kelebogile Thomas Resane ORCID iD 

Issue: Vol. 12 No.9 2026 Issue Article 1 pp. 385 – 395
DOI: https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20261291 Published online 23rd October 2026.
© 2026 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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This article provides a brief history and the nature of the New Charismatic Movement in South Africa. It calls their success flourishing leaves, and their weakness withering fruit. Flourishing leaves represent quantitative growth, while withering fruit signifies a decreasing qualitative character. The research addresses the lack of balance between works and character, which many scholars in the field overlook. Through interdisciplinary literature and media reports, this study identifies seven reasons for Charismatics flourishing. These are mostly within the socio-cultural context in which worshippers exist. These reasons include the human need for intimate connection, pastoral care, desire to learn, and limited patriarchy and legalism. Embracing modernity, balanced with indigenity, together with modern technology, are the last two contributory factors to growth. The withering fruit is analysed in areas of celebrity cult and moral failure, especially in the area of sexuality. The remedial recommendation is proper governance with accountability and mentoring, credible accreditation, and ethical teaching. The scholarly contribution is the understanding of theological implications for the character of the practitioners. The conclusion is the need to maintain balance between quantitative and qualitative growth, moral leadership and proper governance for accountability.

Keywords: New Charismatic, Pentecostal Movement, Spirit, Growth

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Kelebogile Thomas Resane holds a PhD (Theology) from the University of Pretoria. He served at Youth for Christ International for 31 years. He was a Teaching and Learning Manager in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, where he continues as a Research Fellow in the Department of Historical and Constructive Theology. His research focuses on Pentecostal Theologies and Public Theology. Resane published close to 100 articles in academic journals and authored three books. In 2022, he retired as a South African National Director of Bible League International. In September 2023, he was appointed as Editor-in-Chief for the African Journal for Pentecostal Studies. He is married to Tabby and they have 3 grown-up children.

Resane, Kelebogile Thomas. “New Charismatic Movement in South Africa: Flourishing leaves, withering fruit,” E-Journal of Religious and Theological Studies 12, no.9 (2026): 385 – 395. https://doi.org/10.38159/erats.20261291

© 2026 The Author(s). Published and Maintained by Noyam Journals. This is an open access article under the CCBY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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