The five-year contract of the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Dr. Molefe Tsele, comes to an end soon, and the organisation's National Executive Committee is now in the process of appointing a Search Committee that will be tasked with the duty of looking for his successor.

Appointed the SACC's General Secretary in May 2001, Dr. Tsele has been recalled by his church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa, to pursue interests related to the parochial mission of the church.

The President of the SACC, Professor Russel Botman, has expressed appreciation for Tsele's ministry and leadership at the Council, coming as it did during the early stages of the country's democracy and transformation.

"We are grateful to Dr. Molefe Tsele for his leadership, coming as it did during the most difficult and delicate time of our democracy. His was a leadership that had to tackle issues of development and transformation in our country, balancing the interests of the ecumenical movement with those of a transforming society. We are glad that his leadership lived up to the challenges of the day, tough and difficult as they were," said Botman.

For more information contact: Fr. Jo Mdhlela, Head of SACC Communications Unit, 076 560 6967