A Trailblazer of Apostolic Faith, Anointed Healer, and Spiritual Mother of Nations
This memorial website serves as a sacred space to honour the life, calling, and enduring spiritual legacy of Koko Lady Bishop Dr. Selina Tryphosa Chauke, a pioneer in faith, a fearless leader, and a woman chosen by God to transform lives through healing, prayer, and service.
This website exists to:
Celebrate her life and ministry through photos, sermons, and tributes
Educate future generations about her spiritual work
Serve as a historical record of her role in expanding the Apostolic movement
Inspire others to walk boldly in their calling, just as she did
Here, family, church members, and visitors from around the world can come together to reflect, remember, and rekindle the fire of faith that Koko Selina ignited in all of us. Her work continues, not only in memory but in spirit, in word, and in the lives she shaped.
“Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your Lord.”
— Matthew 25:23
About the Life and Legacy of Lady Bishop Dr. Selina Tryphosa Chauke
Founder, Visionary, and Spiritual Mother
Born on 07 March 1918 in Wallmansthal, Pretoria, Selina Tryphosa Chauke entered the world during a turbulent time in South African history. Though she descended from royalty, the granddaughter of a chief on her maternal side, her upbringing was marked by humility and strong moral grounding. She was the third child out of six born to Mrs. Bertha and Mr. Alpheus Chauke, raised in a home of deep conviction and early exposure to faith. Selina shared a close and affectionate bond with her siblings, a bond that shaped much of their lives. Her education began at Wallmansthal, where she distinguished herself academically, completing Standard 6 with first-class distinction, an exceptional achievement for a black woman in pre-apartheid South Africa.
In 1936, at the age of 18, she was blessed with a baby girl; her only child, Geli Naomi, who would later become her closest companion and trusted spiritual successor. Though she could not have foreseen the future at the time, this child would grow to walk closely beside her in both life and ministry, becoming a mirror of her strength, faith, and calling. Their bond, forged in love and purpose, would span decades and leave a lasting mark on the generations that followed.
Our Grandmother’s journey into spiritual leadership began while she was still working in secular employment. It was between 1947 and 1948, during a season of personal hardship and spiritual searching, that she began to seek divine intervention in her life. Her path led her to Mme Tswedikoe, a devout woman of prayer who played a pivotal role in redirecting her course. Seeing Koko’s desperation and spiritual hunger, Mme Tswedikoe invited her to travel to Evaton to attend a church service led by the revered Prophetess Mme Christina Nku.
Lacking the means to make the journey and driven by desperation, Koko made a difficult and regrettable decision, she took some money, just a few cents, from her employer, hoping to use it to reach the prophetess. Upon arriving at Evaton, she and Mme Tswedikoe joined the congregation in worship. During the service, Mme Christina Nku rose to preach, but instead delivered a prophetic message that would shake Koko to the core. With piercing clarity, she declared that someone present had stolen from their employer in order to attend the service; a rebuke delivered not with condemnation, but with holy conviction. She warned that God does not bless such acts, urging the unnamed individual to repent and return the money.
In that moment, Koko was overcome with awe and conviction, realising that Mme Nku was truly a prophetess of God. That encounter became the turning point of her spiritual awakening.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” — Proverbs 19:21
In August 1948, she was baptised at Evaton, sealing her covenant with God and marking the official beginning of her ministry.
Her life would take another profound turn following a season of illness, an affliction so severe that it brought her to the brink of despair. It was a time of great uncertainty, not only for Koko but for her entire family, who watched helplessly as her health deteriorated. Medical doctors were unable to diagnose or offer relief, and as each attempt at recovery failed, it became painfully clear that this was no ordinary illness.
When all human efforts had been exhausted and hope seemed to fade, it was her beloved daughter, Mme Geli, who refused to give up. With unwavering faith and a heart full of love, she made the courageous decision to take her mother to a man of God she had heard about and was highly regarded within the church; Baba P.J. Masango, who would later become Archbishop.
Baba Masango, known for his prophetic gifts and divine healing ministry, prayed for Koko Selina with spiritual authority and compassion. What followed was a miraculous transformation, not only of her physical body, but of her spirit and calling. Through that experience, Koko came to a deeper understanding of God’s power to heal, and her prophetic awareness expanded in ways she had never imagined.
That single act of faith, initiated by her daughter, changed the entire course of her life and ministry. It was this very encounter that laid the foundation of her healing ministry, through which she would later restore hope, health, and faith to countless souls.
Encouraged by Father Masango, Koko’s next steps in ministry were divinely ordered. Upon asking where she resided, Baba Masango learned that she lived in Wallmansthal. He then informed her of a nearby church circuit led by Reverend Mokoena, and advised her to begin attending services there for her spiritual growth and convenience. Koko humbly followed this guidance, and it was in that local branch that her faith deepened and her calling sharpened.
By 1961, Koko started her ministry in Lady Selborne, but her path to spiritual leadership had deep roots in divine encounter and obedience. After falling gravely ill, she spent a prolonged period of spiritual recovery and formation at Katlehong (Ramah), residing on the church grounds, a revered space known in church circles as “staying next to the throne”, with Baba Masango. During this sacred time, Koko is said to have seen visions of Baba Masango on the insides of her eyelashes, a symbolic and deeply spiritual experience that affirmed her prophetic calling.
Her departure from Katlehong was not prompted by instruction, but by revelation: one night, she dreamt that her belongings were being thrown out of the church grounds. Troubled by the dream, she shared it with Baba Masango, who lovingly confirmed its meaning; the time had come for her to leave the nest and begin her own ministry. With his blessing, she returned home to start a new church circuit. This calling would soon take root in Lady Selborne.
Starting her ministry in Lady Selborne was no easy task. The Apostolic style of worship was unfamiliar to many in the area, and the way Koko conducted her ministry; filled with spiritual gifts, prophetic acts, and divine healing, seemed strange to the local community. In those early days, some even mockingly referred to her as “mal maid” – a nickname meaning “crazy girl.”
But Koko remained undeterred. Through perseverance, prayer, and unwavering faith in God, she continued to serve with humility and power. Over time, the very people who once mocked her began to witness the undeniable move of God in her life. Lives were changed, the sick were healed, and the oppressed found hope. Slowly, hearts softened, and the community came to respect, and eventually revere, her as a true servant of the Lord.
Her warmth, spiritual discernment, and unwavering commitment to helping others drew many to her. She was known to go beyond the call of duty, often hiring transport at her own expense to take people with her to church feasts at Katlehong and Evaton, ensuring no one was left behind in worship or fellowship.
Her humility left a lasting impression. So great was the congregation’s love for her that they once offered to buy her a car to ease her travels. True to her character, Koko graciously declined, explaining that she was not in ministry for personal gain but to serve God and His people with a pure heart.
One night, in a vision, the Word of the Lord came to her, revealing that the congregation she had poured her heart into was not permanent, hers was still to come. This message weighed heavily on her spirit. She had laboured earnestly, built a thriving ministry, and touched countless lives. Yet, in faith, she continued to pray and serve, trusting God’s greater plan.
In 1966, after the Group Areas Act was enforced by the apartheid regime, Koko was no longer legally permitted to reside in Lady Selborne. She was forced to relocate to Mabopane, fulfilling the divine message she had received years before. Thus, her ministry took new form at Bockenhout Number 99 in Mabopane Block A, where the next chapter of her calling would unfold.
When Koko arrived in Mabopane, she hit the ground running. Though she had to start from scratch and with very little, it wasn’t long before she had drawn a remarkable following. Her reputation for helping people and changing lives spread quickly throughout the community. Word eventually reached Baba Masango at Ramah: Koko had built a sizeable congregation at Boekenhout, but they had no proper space to gather. At the time, she was operating not from church premises, but from the confines of her own home.
Moved by her progress, Baba Masango gave his blessing for a new church site to be identified. After much searching, Koko was led to a location at Stand 101, Block C. When Baba Masango came to inspect the site, he confirmed that this was indeed the place approved by heaven. With that divine affirmation, the groundwork for building a permanent temple began.
This era of her ministry was marked by tremendous hardship. As a woman leading a church under the oppressive rule of the Bophuthatswana Bantustan regime, Koko faced constant harassment and systemic attempts to stifle her. She endured public disruptions, false accusations—including the charge of “wasting water”—and relentless efforts to delegitimise her authority.
But Koko Selina’s anointing could not be denied.
She stood firm, her faith unwavering. Despite the opposition, her spiritual influence only grew stronger. She became a symbol of courage, resilience, and divine calling. Finally, the new church was officially opened and blessed by Baba Masango in 1974 with Koko installed as its spiritual leader.
Her legacy was further sealed in 1988 with the blessing and unveiling of the church pool, a significant milestone, and the fulfilment of a vision she had carried for years.
In 1990, Koko was further blessed when she was divinely instructed, through a vision, to go and establish a church in Mhinga, Limpopo Province. Though unfamiliar with the area, she followed divine direction. Upon arrival, she was warmly welcomed by Chief Mhinga and allocated land to build a church. There, she ministered to a growing congregation, fulfilling yet another dimension of her spiritual mandate.
“The steps of a good woman are ordered by the Lord.” — Psalm 37:2,
Koko Selina’s ministry was marked by powerful prayers and visible signs of change. In Mhinga, she led the community into a spiritual revival:
A drastic decrease in suicides
Fewer deaths from mysterious illnesses
Reduced crocodile attacks, which had plagued the region
Her presence became synonymous with healing, protection, and deliverance, drawing worshippers from across the region. In 1999, the church in Mhinga was formally blessed by Archbishop Dr. B.J. Maragu, DD, fulfilling a long-standing vision.
Before her passing, she had also begun the process of establishing a third church in Mozambique, a testament to her relentless mission-minded spirit, even in her final days.
Lady Bishop Dr. Selina Tryphosa Chauke was more than a church founder, she was a spiritual matriarch, mentor, intercessor, and leader of leaders. Her life of service shaped communities and produced generations of disciples, including her own daughter, Lady Minister Geli Naomi Sons, who succeeded her and carried the torch with honour.
She is survived by her one daughter, sister, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and a congregation that continues to walk in the foundation she laid.
“Her works will follow her.” — Revelation 14:13
wrote on September 21, 2025
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