Operation Hamba Satan!
He initially lied to the court -- but after Jesus came into his life, Michael Mafogo was determined to tell the truth and return everything he had stolen...
HE used to be a liar and a thief, but today Michael Ellias Mafogo is a new man. In his lifetime he has committed many crimes, but not only has he sought forgiveness, but has sought to make amends actively by returning stolen goods and telling the truth about all that he has been involved in in the past.
Michael wants to ensure that the enemy gets a big kick in the teeth and is given the boot out of his life, so much so that he engaged in his own offensive operation called 'Operation Hamba Satan (Be gone satan!).'
Michael sent us a comprehensive testimony of his past and God's workings in his life. We have tried here to extract the headlines in order to set forth a testimony which we hope will be an inspiration and catalyst to others to live for the Lord.
Michael is from Soekmekaar, Northern Province, having been born in the rural area of Botlokwa. He grew up on a plantation and was a herdsman and gardener who worked for different people in and around Pietersburg.
He became a criminal gang leader and under his leadership many crimes like car hi-jacks, rape, armed robbery, housebreaking and theft were committed, mostly on the N1 road between Pietersburg and Louis Trichardt.
"I am presently serving a sentence of four months in Pietersburg Prison where I miraculously met the Lord Jesus Christ.
"I gave my life to God and that day I will never forget. To be born again is real! I experienced tremendous happiness, joy and complete peace within me which I've never felt before. Suddenly I felt Fatherly Godly forgiveness flowing within me -- which I had always been searching for. The money and valuable things I got from crime could not grant me any of this," says Michael.
"For a moment I could not understand why God, as holy as He is, would bring me, a criminal boss and the dirtiest of all criminals, close to Him. I did not deserve God's mercy and forgiveness as there are better people out there who are not sinning as I did. I cried like never before... I felt different, totally different. All I could say was, 'Thank you Jesus.'
"I began to understand how the devil used me to build his satanic kingdom, where I could, through satanic inspiration, convince police officials even to support crime instead of to work against it. I saw how I had believed the lies about the outcome of crime... I used to be able not to sleep until I had committed crime. I thought I would get riches and respect from the community, but all I got was imprisonment and mockery and poverty.
"I was used in my community to lure mostly the youth into criminal activities -- they thought I had happiness, peace and joy and was successful. They imitated me and yet they did not know the emptiness I was experiencing.
"But crime does not pay. I have seen this myself and this is a loud message which I preach here in prison. I go from cell to cell alerting inmates about destruction that crime brings and the goodness of the Lord. The love of God brings everything that one searches for in crime. And if Jesus could save and change my life, surely He could do the same for everybody else?
"I have learned to cast all my burdens upon the Lord in prayer. Even though I still have many cases pending against me, I am not burdened. I may be sentenced to more than 30 years' imprisonment for all that I have done, but I am not worried about that either. I am only happy that my life is found in the Lord and I am no longer taking part in the devil's dream for the destruction of the human race."
Now, when Michael was first arrested and appeared in court he did not know the Lord and he lied to the court in Mankweng. "I denied charges of car hi-jacking, pleading not guilty, knowing that I was guilty," he says.
"But after I met the Lord, there were words in my heart, 'The truth shall set you free.' I did not understand until I read Proverbs 19:5&9, and other Scriptures, which suggested that as God is the Father of the truth, His children must live by the truth at all times, irrespective of the situation or circumstances. That made me resolved to replace the lies with the truth and I had to begin in Mankweng court.
"When I appeared before that court again, they remanded my case and before I stepped down, it was like the Lord said to me, 'This is the time to correct your lie with the truth.' I raised my hand and was allowed to speak.
"I began by apologising to the court for having lied during my previous appearance, and informed the court of the Lord Jesus who had changed my life and so I did not have to live a life of lying.
"At that moment I knew that truth I was giving the court would mean a long prison sentence and friends would become enemies, but as a child of God, the Father of Truth, I had to speak and live by the truth.
"I told the court that I did hi-jack the Kombi and I was guilty of the offence. Instantly I felt like there was a heavy load off my shoulders. I felt free from some bondage. The happiness and joy I got from speaking the truth overshadowed fears of the prison sentence. Even the court applauded my action and I was overjoyed that I could make my Father God smile over my actions.
"At my house, they could only find clothing valued at about R10 000, so they could not link me easily to other cases, owing to a lack of evidence.
"I believed in God's presence with me and all my fears were gone and I asked Him to lead the way as I started with 'Operation Hamba Satan.'
"The police came and I told them everything, being ready to help them identify and locate stolen property.
"We started on August 4, 2000 with the Lord leading the way and goods were recovered with ease. We recovered stolen vehicles, trailers, furnishings, TV's, video machines and hi-fi's and a lot of other valuables, their total value amounting to about R300 000. I also gave back to the police goods at my home that were stolen, valued at about R20 000. Operation 'Hamba Satan' was completed.
"What is impossible for man is possible with God. I went to court at Ramokgopa and pleaded guilty on all charges I could be identified with. I knew very well that so speaking the truth would result in a long prison sentence, but I was not going to lie my way out. Going out without the Lord is not better than staying in prison with the Lord -- life without Him is useless whether inside prison or outside.
"In Ramokgopa court, I got an opportunity to address the community in court, alerting the youth of the lie of crime and advised them to listen as they knew me as a criminal gang leader.
"There was also an emotional opportunity as I could address some of the victims and apologise for my inhumane actions. I assured them that the things I had taken were already in police hands and they would get them back.
"While in court I could tell everybody that I had repented outside the court and I continued to ask forgiveness from the victims as I addressed the court. Then came a golden moment when I could shake hands with the victims. I could sense the heavenly bells and the angels applauding such repentance -- which only God made possible. Oh, how glorious is our God."
All Michael's cases have been remanded to January 17, 2001.
Anyone wanting to contact him is advised to write to him at his home postal address of:
Box 407,
Ramokgopa 0811.
His wife, Shirley will take all correspondence to him when she visits him in prison. (The couple also have an 8-year-old daughter, Michelle, and a four-year-old son, Mike, who we should also remember in our prayers.)