The remarkable life story of Dr Markus Petrus Kruger - A tribute by Prof Derrick Mashau

Dr Markus Petrus Kruger was born in 1936 and grew up to become an instrument in the hands of the living God by becoming a pastor and a missionary of the Reformed Churches in South Africa (GKSA).

He was married to Juliana Kruger, and together had five children and 15 grandchildren. His children are: Chris Kruger, Sarlina Prinsloo, Jan Kruger, Gerda Hayes and Mimi Van der Walt. He was a good husband and father to his wife and children. They remember him as somebody who did not only love his family, but as their pillar of strength who, irrespective of his hard work, had quality time with his family and grandchildren.

As a church man, Dr Kruger served the following Reformed congregations as a pastor: Ladysmith (1963-1966), Lindley (1966-1968), and Danielskuil (1968-1975). He was then called to become a missionary among the Vhavenda- and Shangaan-speaking peoples in the Soutpansberg region.

He served as a missionary of the Reformed Churches De Hoop and Malamulele from 1975 to 2001. It was during this time that one started noticing a cream white Nissan bakkie and later a white Toyota bakkie, both with white canopies moving from one village to another in his effort to bring the gospel of Christ to our people. He served with evangelists Netshivhulana, Maswanganyi, Mabunda, Miyambo, Ndleve, Macheke, among others.

As a missionary, he served our people with distinction. He worked at the time when apartheid was rife but he easily associated with our people like one of us. He could speak Tshivenda fluently and also learnt Shangaan and could have meaningful conversations with elderly people with ease. He did not only sacrifice his time, but also his resources to meet the needs of our people where it hurt most. He provided food for many households, helped many to receive their education and provided transport for the sick to different hospitals. He spent more of his time in our villages, more than time spent with his wife and children.

As he transcended the racial barrier, Dr Kruger enjoyed ordinary dishes of our people without reservations. He touched and transformed the lives of many people and made huge sacrifices on his side in order to bring the reconciling gospel of Christ to us.

When he retired as a missionary, Markus Petrus Kruger enrolled for his PhD studies under my supervision. It was a case of a mentee becoming a mentor to his own mentor, and with this in mind, you already see something of his spirit of humility playing its part. His thesis focused on: “Causes and cures of dualism and syncretism in prison: a missiological study”. His research was conducted among inmates of Kutama Sinthumule Maximum Security Prison, where he also spent most of his time preaching the gospel after his retirement. He became a Doctor of Philosophy in 2007 through the North West University (Potchefstroom Campus).

He died on 29 August 2013 and was buried on 2 September 2013, when many African people from all the villages that he had served with distinction came to bid him farewell. It was also good to see some of the pastors that he had served with, some of whom that he had mentored as young people, present: Drs Hobyane and Mutavhatsindi, Proff Van Rooy and Baloyi, Reverends Ligege, Makungo, Muhadi and Nemahotole, among others.

We thank God with the life of Dr Markus Petrus Kruger, for it was a life well lived. He lived to fulfil God’s calling and will in his life. He became the eyes, ears, hands and feet of Jesus Christ as he boldly preached the gospel with great humility to our people. All the glory be to the God of Markus Petrus Kruger for a life worth celebrating.

His last wish to his children was to see an orphanage centre that will cater for destitute people established in Makhado. It should not just be an ordinary centre, but one where the gospel is at the centre and is also well managed. I hope and trust that churches and businesspeople in and around Makhado will rise to this challenge and ensure that Dr Kruger’s vision and his wish become a reality. The Dr Markus Petrus Kruger Centre for Orphans might be a suitable name as we honour this giant of faith whose life remains a testimony to all of us.