Bishop Israel Makamu's biography: All we know about the controversial preacher
Few figures in South African religious broadcasting draw as much attention, or as much controversy, as Bishop Israel Makamu. As the founder of a church with more than a dozen branches and the face of two long-running Moja Love shows, Bishop Israel has built a public profile that few pastors can match. His visibility has repeatedly pulled him into serious allegations, from claims of soliciting sex from a minor to a sexual assault case that made national headlines.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Key takeaways
- Profile summary
- Who is Bishop Israel Makamu?
- FAQs
Key takeaways
- Bishop Israel Makamu founded Endless Hope Bible Church, which operates 14 branches and employs 84 staff members across South Africa.
- He has been married to Hloniphile Makamu since 2005.
- The couple has three children named Ntwanano, Ntokozo, and Ntsumi.
- Makamu was arrested on a sexual assault charge in May 2021 relating to an alleged 2018 incident. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) withdrew the prosecution in August 2021.
- He also faced separate, widely publicised allegations in 2021 involving a resurfaced 2017 voice recording in which he allegedly solicited sexual favours from a teenage congregant.
Profile summary
Full name | Israel Makamu |
Gender | Male |
Date of Birth | 25 May 1978 |
Age | 48 years (as of 2026) |
Birthplace | Katlehong, Gauteng, South Africa |
Current residence | Johannesburg, South Africa |
Nationality | South African |
Zodiac sign | Gemini |
Religion | Christianity |
Ethnicity | Black |
Sexuality | Straight |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Black |
Marital status | Married |
Spouse | Hloniphile Makamu |
Children | 3 |
Education | Christian Family Church International Bible College |
Profession | Preacher, entrepreneur, TV show host, and motivational speaker |
Who is Bishop Israel Makamu?
Bishop Israel Makamu is a preacher, television host, empowerment speaker, and author. He is also a relationship coach. He became a highly visible pastor whose church grew into 14 branches across South Africa.
How old is Pastor Makamu?
Bishop Israel Makamu's age is 48 years as of 2026. He was born on 25 May 1978, and his Zodiac sign is Gemini.
Source: Original
Where is Bishop I Makamu originally from?
Bishop Israel Makamu is originally from Katlehong, Gauteng, South Africa, where he was born and raised. He currently resides in Johannesburg.
Who are Bishop Makamu's parents?
Israel's parents are Titus and Rophinia Makamu. His father, Titus, died in 2017, but his mother remains actively involved with the church.
The Bishop was raised in Katlehong, Gauteng. His father was a pastor, which placed a lot of pressure on him growing up. He has said he did not indulge in particularly bad behaviour but felt burdened by attending church so often as a child.
By secondary school, he had immersed himself fully in church life, preaching and praying for fellow students, which earned him the nickname Bishop.
Educational background
After completing high school, Israel attended Bible school to study Theology. He enrolled at the Christian Family Church International Bible College. He has said he believes his gift for preaching is inborn, and that Bible college supplemented talents he sees as God-given.
Career
It may surprise many, but Israel was not always a pastor. Before returning to the church, he worked as an operations manager in the corporate world.
Preaching
After his stint in the corporate world, Bishop Makamu founded Endless Hope Bible Church, which has since grown to 14 branches nationwide. He has said he draws a salary just like his 84 employees across those branches.
His unconventional preaching style has landed him in controversy before, but Bishop Makamu has maintained he has no apologies for his method of getting his message across.
TV shows
Bishop Makamu's outspoken nature has landed him several roles in the entertainment industry. He hosts the television show Rea Tsotella on the DStv channel Moja Love. This is a conflict-resolution programme in which he mediates disputes between families and community members.
The preacher briefly stepped down from the role in 2021 amid controversy over a recording in which he was alleged to have solicited sex from a young congregant.
He also has a reality show, I Am Bishop I Makamu, on Moja Love. It is a 13-part series showing his followers the challenges he faces as a pastor, along with his day-to-day activities and family life.
Bishop Makamu's business
Bishop Makamu runs a funeral home service operating within South Africa. iMakamu Funeral Home was launched in 2013 and offers a range of funeral services to South African families.
What is Bishop Makamu's estimated net worth?
Bishop Makamu's estimated net worth is approximately R9 million to R15 million, built through his church, his TV hosting roles, and his funeral home business. The exact net worth remains unconfirmed in the public domain.
Bishop Makamu's wife and kids
Bishop Makamu is married to Hloniphile Makamu, and together, they have three children. He met his wife in 2003, and the two married two years later.
The preacher has attributed winning her heart to his persevering nature. He first saw her standing at a traffic light after dropping off a friend, and got out of his car to speak to her.
Hlonifile was 19 years old when he first met her and was studying nursing at Ann Latsky Nursing College in Johannesburg. She was the first in her family to be born again, so she and the pastor understood each other well from early on.
Hlonifile has said she was nervous about becoming a bishop's wife because of the spotlight it would bring, but felt she could not refuse what she saw as God's calling.
Alongside nursing, she has also studied theology. The couple has three children together. Their names are Ntwanano, Ntokozo, and Ntsumi Makamu.
How old is Bishop Makamu's wife?
Hloniphile Makamu's exact date of birth has not been made public. Based on her reported age of 19 when the couple met in 2003, she would be in her early-to-mid forties as of September 2026.
Bishop Makamu's controversies and divorce rumours
Bishop Israel Makamu has made headlines several times due to controversy. Allegations of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor threatened to end his career at one point, and a separate sexual assault allegation later put him back in the headlines.
In May 2021, the prominent pastor faced public backlash after a voice recording from 2017 resurfaced. In the recording, he allegedly asked a teenage congregant for sexual favours.
The young woman at the centre of the controversy said Makamu offered her father R1 million, which the family refused. She later left her job at the church, saying she felt unsafe.
Makamu denied wrongdoing at the time, stating he was innocent. Following the scandal, he voluntarily stepped down as host of Rea Tsotella pending an internal investigation by Moja Love.
He returned to hosting the programme in July 2021 after Moja Love concluded its internal investigation and the parties reached a mediated agreement. Moja Love's Head of Channel, Bokani Moyo, said in a statement reported by TshisaLIVE and City Press:
After careful consideration and evaluation, the channel decided to reinstate Bishop Makamu to continue hosting Rea Tsotella.
In a separate matter, a former employee of his church accused him of sexual assault. She alleged the incident took place in September 2018 in his church office in Alrode, Alberton.
Makamu was arrested in May 2021 and released on R2,000 bail after appearing in court. Several parties mediated between the pastor and the complainant.
In August 2021, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) withdrew the case after the complainant filed a withdrawal statement. NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said at the time that:
After careful consideration of all evidence and the mediation process between the complainant and Makamu, the NPA is convinced that the interest of justice dictates that prosecution no longer be pursued.
Bishop Makamu's divorce rumours
Following the sexual allegations against the bishop, many observers anticipated that Bishop Makamu's marriage would collapse, but his wife stood by him throughout.
On 16 May 2021, he apologised to his wife during a sermon about forgiveness, telling his congregation that those without sin should be the ones to throw the first stone, and that those without God do not know how to forgive. As of September 2026, there is no public record of the couple divorcing.
iMakamu Funerals scandal
In July 2024, Bishop Israel Makamu's funeral services company, iMakamu Funerals, made headlines. A family from Thokoza, Ekurhuleni, said they received poor service from the company.
The family shared images of torn tents and dirty drapes on social media, where the post went viral across X, TikTok, and Facebook. The family said their attempts to raise the issue directly had gone nowhere.
Makamu's legal representative responded to the media, saying it was difficult to act because the family did not approach him to report the problem through formal channels. He added that no investigation or disciplinary process could proceed without a formal complaint.
The family disputed this, maintaining they had used legal channels. Bishop Israel Makamu did not personally respond to the matter.
Bishop Makamu's latest news
Bishop Makamu is continuing his vocation as a preacher at his Endless Hope Bible Church. He has stated that he plans to expand his church. The reality television star is also actively marketing the iMakamu funerals on social media.
FAQs
- What is the name of Bishop Makamu's church? His church is Endless Hope Bible Church. It has 14 branches throughout South Africa and 84 staff members.
- Who exposed Bishop Makamu? The preacher's 2021 controversy became public after an X (Twitter) user identified as Lady_L Mabuza-Thaanyane, reportedly Lerato Mabuza, shared the audio recording of the Bishop speaking with a minor, which then circulated widely on social media.
- Is Bishop Makamu from Mozambique? No, the famous preacher was born and raised in South Africa, specifically in Katlehong, Gauteng.
- How old is Pastor Makamu? He is 48 years old as of 2026, having been born on 25 May 1978.
- Who is Bishop Makamu's wife? His wife is Hlonifile, whom he married in 2005.
- Is Bishop Makamu divorced? No, he is not divorced and remains married to his wife, Hlonifile, despite past speculation following the 2021 controversies.
Bishop Israel Makamu has faced multiple serious allegations and controversies that have repeatedly threatened his career and reputation. From the 2021 voice-recording scandal to the sexual assault case that was ultimately withdrawn by the complainant, he has continued to lead Endless Hope Bible Church.
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Lynn Kandie Lynn Kandie is a reporter with 5 years of experience in writing. Before joining the team in 2018, Lynn wrote for Kenyan media platforms and several other websites. She graduated from the University of Nairobi in 2019 with honours after pursuing a BSc. in Meteorology. She is currently studying for a Master's degree in the same field. Lynn specialises in writing celebrity biographies, listicles and teasers for popular TV shows.
Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over seven years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University (graduated in 2017). Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Cyprine received the 2023 and 2025 Writer of the Year awards. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
