The South African Council of Churches (SACC) welcomed South Africa's election to the United Nations Security Council and urged the South African government to use its mandate to promote economic justice, peace and good stewardship of the environment.

"It is appropriate that news of South Africa's near-unanimous election to the Security Council reached most South Africans on 17 October, the day designated by the United Nations as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty," said Mr. Eddie Makue, SACC General Secretary. "As churches, we hope that South Africa and her colleagues on the Security Council can work together for a world where all nations will use the bounty of God's creation responsibly so that all may enjoy life in abundance."

Mr. Makue said that it was particularly important for the Security Council to nurture a climate conducive to fair trade practices that favour developing nations and enable them to grow and diversify their economies.

"The scale of support for South Africa's appointment is gratifying but not surprising," Mr. Makue continued. "South Africa's democratic transition and record of respect for human rights since 1994 is widely seen as a model for peaceful conflict resolution and development. South Africa is able to speak with a unique moral authority on questions of justice and reconciliation. We therefore have a particular duty to help the global community to resist aggression and to resolve conflicts peacefully and fairly."

The Council applauded the South African government for its peacemaking role on the African continent and its vision as an architect of the African Union. "It will be important for South Africa to keep Africa's needs and interests before the eyes of the world and to prevent Africa from being pushed to the periphery of global attention," Makue observed.

The General Secretary cited the environment as another key priority for South Africa during its Security Council tenure. "The world is already paying the price for decades of environmental pillage, particularly by rich and powerful nations," Mr. Makue warned. "Climate change is gathering a momentum that may be unstoppable if we do not take collective action to protect the integrity of God's creation. The exhaustion of fundamental resources - such as clean water - and the rapid privatisation of remaining supplies and delivery infrastructure are likely to intensify struggles for access to and control of these resources in future. Unless we devise responsible mechanisms to regulate use and share these resources equitably, we are heading for terrible consequences."

South Africa was elected to one of the Security Council's non-permanent seats on Monday with the support of 186 of the United Nations' 192 members. It will begin its two-year term on 1 January.

For more information, contact: Mr. Eddie Makue, (082 853 8781)