The Shriners Have Arrived In South Africa

Gauteng Shrine Club of Mahi Shriners

During the latter part of 2019, two 33rd Degree Masons, Most Puissant Brother Adam Du Plessis and Most Illustrious Brother Paul Nash, started having discussions about bringing the Shriners to South Africa. They asked the then Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, for help and were put in touch with Imperial Sir Ed Stolze, Imperial Chief Rabban, and the ball started to role.

On March 10, 2021, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Africa signed a letter of no objection to starting a Shrine Club in South Africa. From then on, and mainly due to the Covid-19 shutdown and the untimely passing to the Grand Lodge in the East of MP Brother Du Plessis and with the support of their new Sovereign Grand Commander MP Brother Victor Muhlenbeck, they received notification from Mahi Shriners in November 2022 that they could go ahead and form a Shrine Club in South Africa.

On Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 7 p.m. South African Time, 10 Master Masons from Lodges within the Northern Division of the Grand Lodge of South Africa were initiated into the Mahi Shriners via a Zoom meeting with Florida. So began the first Shriner Club in South Africa and in the African continent, which has taken 18 months of planning and discussions to come to fruition.

About Shriners International

While not all Masons are Shriners, all Shriners are Masons. Therefore, a man must become a Master Mason before he becomes a Shriner.

The Shriners strive to:

• Be the premier fraternal organization for men of good character.
• Provide attractive, quality programs and services for its members, their families and their friends in a spirit of fun, fellowship and social camaraderie.
• Foster self-improvement through leadership, education, the perpetuation of moral values and community involvement.
• Serve mankind through the resources of its philanthropy, Shriners Children’s.

Shriners International is a brotherhood of men of great character, compassion and strong values who are committed to family, fellowship and making the world a better place. They seek to attract men of different backgrounds, career paths, ages and interests, and the unique ideas, beliefs and perspectives they bring to our global Shriners family. Our members are known for their loyalty, camaraderie, and steadfast support of each other and their communities in times of need. We have members on six continents, so essentially, you can go anywhere in the world, and you will always have a friend and a brother.

Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth. 

To become a member of Shriners International, you must be a Master Mason in good standing with your Lodge. Although Shriners International is a brotherhood, it is also an organization that celebrates the importance of family. Many of our events and activities are designed to include spouses, children and grandchildren, and to promote shared values. If you are a working professional with a busy schedule, this allows you to spend quality time with your brothers while simultaneously strengthening your family bonds. Shriners and their extended families are a large, compassionate, supportive group where lasting relationships are formed.

For more information about how to become a Shriner, please visit beashrinernow.org.