The Revd Dr Christiaan Frederick Beyers Naudé left this earthly life at 03h20 on the morning of 7th September 2004. His lifelong partner, Ilse, and children were at his bedside when he passed away at Elm Park Village in Northcliff, Johannesburg.

This statement is released on behalf of the Beyers Naudé family, by the South African Council of Churches (SACC).

Dr Beyers Naudé, or "Oom Bey", as he was passionately known, served in the SACC, the ecumenical family and many other institutions committed to equality, peace and justice.

On behalf of the SACC and the people of South Africa we mourn the loss of this great African. We sympathise with the immediate family and the many people around the world who were touched by the compassion and ministry of Oom Bey.

We thank Aunt Ilse and the Beyers Naudé family for sharing the life and times of Oom Bey with so many of us. Oom Bey has been unequivocal in his stance against apartheid. His courage and selfless sacrifices left indelible marks on the lives of innumerable people from all walks of life.

His prophetic stand provided hope and direction to peace-lovers and fighters for freedom and justice, both within the church and secular society. Oom Bey endured persecution from those who wanted him to conform to norms and standards that disagreed with his faith in the equality and worth of all people.

Despite the persecution, Oom Bey maintained a humble understanding of his roots as an Afrikaner and member of the Dutch Reformed Church. He was uncompromising in his witness to truth, the struggle for freedom and commitment to righteousness.

Oom Bey was active in the international church community, particularly in the World Council of Churches. He encouraged organisations across the world to resist apartheid and was instrumental in the WCC establishing a Programme to Combat Racism. Through such courageous efforts Oom Bey served as a voice of conscience and voice of the voiceless masses in apartheid South Africa.

In his tireless campaigns against apartheid Oom Bey spared no resources. He also distributed resources to activities and individuals that participated in struggles for a better South Africa.

Oom Bey's role in Cottseloe is a turning point in his personal life. During this international gathering of churches he was the only Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) member that denounced apartheid and its policies. This confessing position against apartheid caused him to be defrocked in 1963. His status as minister/dominee/pastor in the DRC was only returned shortly before our liberation in 1994.

Another marker in the life of Dr Beyers Naudé is when he became the first and only director of the Christian Institute, a multi-racial organisation. This institute served as an example of him putting other people before his personal life and interests. As editor of Pro Veritate, a monthly ecumenical magazine, he promoted the growth of the ecumenical movement in South Africa. In October 1977 the South African government declared Pro Veritate and the Christian Institute unlawful and placed severe restrictions on Dr Naudé by means of a 'banning' order.

Even after the SACC made a commitment to be led by a black South African Dr Naudé was appointed as General Secretary and served from February 1985 to June 1987. In 1995 he was elected as Honorary Life President of the SACC. After his official retirement in 1985 Oom continued to serve the people of South Africa in the Ecumenical Advice Bureau, while he served as trustee and patron in a wide range of organisations such as:

• The African Scholarship Fund
• Community Bank
• Council of the University of the North
• South African Legal Defence and Aid Fund (SALDEF)
• African European Institute
• Ecumenical Service for Socio-Economic Transformation (ESSET)
• Kagiso Trust
• Editorial Board of Challenge Magazine

The Freedom of The City of Johannesburg was conferred on Dr Naudé during 2002 and the democratic government also conferred an Order for Meritorious Service-Gold on him, in recognition of his service to the people of South Africa. Amongst the many other awards conferred on Dr Naudé are: the Franklin D Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award, the Robert F Kennedy Human Rights Award, the Order of Oranje-Nassau -Netherlands and the Bruno Kreisky Award, together with at least ten honorary doctorates.

The legacy that Oom Bey will be remembered for is his ability to bring people across all political strata together. He was particularly active in bringing to light the plight of children in detention in South Africa. The Harare Children's Conference in 1987 marked a turning point in connecting directly repression inside the prisons of South Africa to the world view. Oom Beyers also began consultations to discuss the unification of the two sections of the Dutch Reform Church.

Oom Bey kept contact with the leadership of the ANC and the PAC who were in exile. Oom Bey led a group of eminent South African Business leaders to meet with the ANC in Dakar, he was also invited by the ANC to join in the first "talks about talks" which led to the Pretoria Minute.

Contributions in lieu of flowers may be deposited into the Beyers Naudé Scholarship Fund at:

NEDBANK, Business Central, Gauteng
Branch code: 128405
Account Number 1284 053 105

or you may contact Phindy Maseko at tel. 011 630 6594 or fax 011 630 6897 at NEDBANK, Booysens. Alternatively you may contact Simon Maleka at Kagiso Trust, Tel 011 403 6319, Fax 011 403 1940.

Oom Bey left a will indicating how he wishes to be buried. He will be buried on 18th September at 14h00 during a Public Ceremony from the Dutch Reformed Church (Aasvoëlkop), Lawley Ave, Northcliff. Any other plans will be posted on the SACC website. You are also welcome to sign a "book of remembrance" in the SACC Chapel in Khotso House.

A Committee consisting of Dr Molefe Tsele, Rev Frank Chikane and Dr Carl Niehaus has been established to take charge of funeral arrangements.

For more information, contact: Dr Molefe Tsele 082 458 2037 or Dr Carl Niehaus 082 459 5026

Issued by the South African Council of Churches
President: Prof. Russel Botman
Senior Vice-President: Ms Thabisile Msezane
Vice-President: Bishop Lunga Siboto
General Secretary: Rev. Dr. Molefe Tsele