ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: The church is often required to stay out of politics but not so for a Christian minister in South Africa, who is also a member of the parliament. He has a unique task of trying to balance his roles as preacher and politician. We get the story now from the South African Broadcasting Corporation.</s>RONEL VAN ZYL, SABC CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is one of South Africa parliamentarian at his parish outside Johannesburg. The reverend is the only politician who is also a full-time preacher. He has no qualms about his dual role.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I decided as a tax payer I must also decide to have a say in the future of this country.</s>VAN ZYL: Clergymen becoming politicians aren't new to South Africa. Among them were former Prime Minister</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The oppressor can not continue to oppress, cannot continue to do violence to god's defenseless people, cannot continue to intimidate, cannot continue to kill.</s>VAN ZYL: Father</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They have one thing in common: the ability to serve the people.</s>VAN ZYL: Several have two callings. Among them,</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is more or less what I have been doing since I was a nun.</s>VAN ZYL: A few former preachers who served under the previous regime are still in parliament. The clergy find life uncomfortable with gradually shaped Christian conventions. The houses of power now embody the competition of principle of a secular state but the clergy are</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They play a magnificent role.</s>VAN ZYL: Some theologians are too far apart.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When one has a representative of a place in parliament,</s>VAN ZYL: People in parliament believe they can play a redeeming role in society. Many Christians may be
South Africa Mixes Preachers and Politicians