Heinz Winckler, Angus Buchan and the revival of Christian nationalism in SA

Heinz Winckler, the first winner of the TV talent show “Idols” in South Africa, is attempting to launch a homegrown version of Turning Point, the US-based organisation founded by podcaster Charlie Kirk.

Winckler announced the initiative, called ONE80, in the aftermath of Kirk’s assassination about a month ago — but it appears to have attracted little public attention until journalist Pontsho Pilane tweeted a picture of an advert for ONE80 carried in Joy magazine, a Christian publication.

“ONE80 is a movement that stands for Faith, Family & Freedom, created in response to the sacrifice of Charlie Kirk and the global impact thereof,” states Winckler’s website.

“We see a movement with national impact through local expression. We aim to unify likeminded people, set up chapters in as many cities and towns as we can in order to reach young people and bring about positive change”.

Winckler’s rebranding: popstar to pastor to podcaster

Winckler was a commercial pop star who pivoted to Christian music in 2016. Thereafter, his website explains, “In June 2020 the Lord spoke clearly to Heinz that he is to plant a church, that it must be unaffiliated and that He, the Lord, is doing a new thing. On 28 October 2020 during his time with God, the Holy Spirit revealed to Heinz that the church should be planted on 22 November – less than a month away!”

On 22 November 2020, Winckler accordingly launched his LoveKey Church, which meets weekly in the hall of a Somerset West school. He and his wife, Alette, an “image consultant”, are the lead pastors. The Wincklers also lead  “luxury tours” to places of Biblical interest.

As is the case with many evangelical churches, LoveKey accepts donations via every conceivable payment platform.

Winckler also recently branched into podcasting, through the In HeinzSight BoldCast, with his guests thus far having been made up largely of fellow evangelicals, alt-right podcasters like Gareth Cliff, and defenders of Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The former pop star’s views, as expressed in his videoed sermons and on his social media accounts, are typical of the contemporary US right: critical of the “liberal left woke agenda”, fearful of “radicalised Muslims”, and passionately pro-Israel.

He made headlines a few years ago when he led a campaign to stop a Somerset West school from attempting to accommodate a pupil who identified as transgender.

As an example of the nature of his religious views, Winckler tweeted last week: “Do not partake, participate, tolerate or celebrate Halloween and anything else the world offers that is against God’s word”.

ONE80 aims to lead SA in a different direction

Winckler’s ONE80 project has so far attracted more than 750 members of a WhatsApp group set up to coordinate it, despite its vaguely stated aims.

The Turning Point USA organisation, its inspiration, is the foremost conservative youth group in the US, working mainly in high schools and universities. It aims to influence student government elections and has drawn controversy over its Professor Watchlist and School Board Watchlist: public databases of educators, academics and administrators accused of pushing liberal agendas, which have seen some of those named receive rape threats and death threats.

Daily Maverick asked Winckler why he felt that Kirk’s work, which made the US podcaster a multi-millionaire, was transferable to a South African context.

“I started ONE80 in response to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the work of Turning Point USA, and the very moving memorial service that was held for Charlie where everyone could see the positive impact one man’s life can have on the world,” said Winckler via email.

“I, and those with me, can see that South Africa is heading in an unhealthy and unsustainable direction — morally, economically, socio-economically, politically, and educationally. The core problem is not only corruption and mismanagement, but a crisis of worldview. A drastic change of direction is necessary.”

When asked to elaborate on what this “drastic change” might look like in practical terms, Winckler replied: “A drastic change in essence would be stopping the negative direction we are heading, and moving in the positive opposite direction.”

He said that South Africa’s current predicament was due to “destructive ideologies”, and that a “healthy way of thinking” was necessary instead.

Winckler also said that ONE80 had not received any funding related to the US or Israel.

The wider context of appeasing evangelicals

Winckler’s project arrives in a context where religious conservatives are being emboldened worldwide by increasingly right-leaning Christian governments.

As Daily Maverick recently reported, there is a concerted and well-funded global campaign under way, largely financed with US and Russian money, to restore socially conservative government policies and undermine advocacy around gender equality, abortion rights, sex education in schools and gay marriage.

Against this backdrop, eyebrows were raised by the spectacle of Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis kneeling in prayer last weekend alongside evangelist Angus Buchan at a Mighty Men Cape Flats event.

Buchan’s Mighty Men campaign aims to empower men to “embrace their roles as Priest, Prophet, & King in their homes and lives”.

The evangelist has long attracted controversy for his statements on the position of women, the ability of gay people to be “changed” through prayer, his calls for a “Christian government” and the idea that only Jewish and Afrikaans people are “in covenant” with God — a view he apologised for after it was pointed out by the Economic Freedom Fighters.

Asked by Daily Maverick why Hill-Lewis chose to work with Buchan at the Mighty Men event, mayoral spokesperson Lyndon Khan replied: “The mayor is often invited and attends religious ceremonies and events of every faith and creed across the city.

“This particular event was focused on fighting gangsterism and reclaiming communities on behalf of the 99.9% of people who want the same thing: peace, safety and better opportunities for their children. That’s a worthwhile thing to come together and demonstrate unity for.”

Speaking to journalists after the event, Buchan blamed “the devil” for Cape Flats gang violence.

The organiser of the event, Radio Tygerberg, told Daily Maverick through spokesperson Cisca Badenhorst that they had “no concerns” about Buchan’s history of homophobic and patriarchal statements.

“We have never experienced any hate towards anyone from Angus Buchan. In fact, the total opposite. He loves all people dearly. Especially his wife, who he continuously calls his ‘best friend’,” Badenhorst told Daily Maverick. DM 

Additional reporting by Tamsin Metelerkamp.