Meet the New Leaders in the Africa South Area

Four new leaders have been called to serve in regional callings.

Several local leaders have been called to serve in the Africa South Area. Here’s a little about who they are and what they have been called to do.

Area Organisation Advisers

Two new area organisation advisers have been called. These sister leaders provide guidance and instruction to newly called presidencies in sister-led organizations, including Relief Society, Young Women and Primary. They may also extend their instruction to presidencies that have been serving for an extended period. Area organization advisers play a vital role in supporting the Area Presidency in their pursuit of priesthood goals.

Sister Futhi Mdletshe is a resident of Roodeport, South Africa, and has been married to Khumbulani Mdletshe for almost 29 years. The Mdletshes have four children and one grandchild.

Sister Mdletshe worked in Church employment for the Africa South Area in the Membership Records and Statistics department for five years before she became a homemaker. She will also soon complete her Brigham Young University-Idaho degree.

Prior to her appointment as an area organization adviser, Sister Mdletshe served as a ward Young Women first counsellor, first counsellor and president in the Primary, Relief Society president, adult Sunday School teacher, ward librarian, Relief Society compassionate service leader, and more recently a mission leader in the Kenya Nairobi Mission between 2019 and 2022.

In her new role, Sister Mdletshe invites all sisters to focus on temple ordinances, and making and keeping covenants.

“Let’s prioritize these sacred covenants, honour our commitments, and embrace the blessings they bring,” she says.

Sister Christine Van Reenen currently resides in George in the Western Cape with Jacques van Reenen, her husband of 38 years. They are the parents of three children and two grandchildren.

Sister van Reenen gained valuable experience working at a bank for a year, but her true passion lies in the field of desktop publishing. She dedicated her spare time to completing several short courses in desktop publishing.

During her 44-year membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sister van Reenen dedicated her time and talents to serving in various roles. She has served as a ward Young Women counsellor and Young Women president, as well as a teacher, counsellor, and president in the ward Primary organization.

Additionally, she has contributed as a counsellor, secretary and teacher in the ward Relief Society and fulfilled responsibilities as a ward employment specialist and family history consultant.

She and her husband, Jacques, recently completed their service as mission leaders for the Cape Town South Africa Mission.

Discussing her new role, Sister van Reenen says, “I hope to remind every sister I interact with to recognize their immense worth, the boundless love their Heavenly Father has for them, and foster a deep understanding of their discipleship.”

Area Seventies

Two brethren have been called as Area Seventies. Area Seventies are Church leaders called by the First Presidency to be “especial witnesses” and to assist the Twelve in “building up the church and regulating all the affairs” and “preaching and administering the gospel” in their assigned areas (Doctrine and Covenants 107:25, 34, 38).

Area Seventies are called and set apart to serve in specific geographical areas but may also be assigned to serve in other areas as needed. They are not called to full-time service and typically serve for five years.

Thabo Lebethoa lives in Roodepoort, west of Johannesburg, South Africa. He currently works for the Church as the area director of Seminaries and Institutes of Religion in the Africa South Area.

Before accepting this calling, Elder Lebethoa was serving as a high councilor of the Roodepoort South Africa Stake. His previous callings include bishop, bishopric counselor, high councilor, stake president and mission president. Elder Lebethoa and his wife, Andronica, have four children.

Of his new calling, Elder Lebethoa says, ““I am humbled to serve as an Area Seventy at this time of growth in the Church, especially in the Africa South area. It is my hope that through the help and guidance of the Lord, I can be an instrument in His hands and assist in His great work of salvation and exaltation. I feel an urgent need to help gather as many of God’s children to Him through the restored gospel of His Son Jesus Christ. I know that there will always be opposition to the work, however I also know that we are entitled to Lord’s help when we do His work.”

Siyabonga Mkhize lives in Durban, South Africa. He works as an attorney and partner at Shepstone Wylie Attorneys in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.

Before accepting this calling, Elder Lebethoa was serving as a presidency counselor in the South Africa Durban Mission. He has previously served as a bishopric counselor, branch president and stake presidency counselor. Elder Mkhize and his wife, Tumeka, have three children.

In his role as an Area Seventy, Elder Mkhize says, “my primary purpose and objective is to bear record of the name of Jesus Christ and to invite all of God’s children in the Africa South Area to come unto Him. And, to assist the Twelve in building up and regulating the affairs of the Church within the Africa South Area as directed by the Area Presidency. One of my focus areas is to help increase and strengthen the faith of young adults, including returned missionaries.”