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Political Hit Squads – Enemies of the Nation!
26 January 2012

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) finds the recent media reports on the existence of political hit men squads in Limpopo to be very disturbing, concerning and outright unacceptable within the values of the peaceful and democratic South Africa.

At the heart of our concern is the failure by certain groups and individual to understand and respect life as sacred and GOD-given opportunity. No one, it doesn’t matter how powerful they are, have the right or even the privilege to end another person’s life. This is a right reserved only to GOD who remains in charge of our beginning and end – the Alpha and Omega.

The SACC therefore calls upon those who are behind the establishment of hit squads in Limpopo Province and elsewhere in the country to desist from this practice and invest their energy in finding solutions through dialogue, debate and engagement. GOD has endowed all of us with brains and minds to resolve even the most incomprehensible challenges.

We are quite happy and do congratulate members of the Hawks, Crime Intelligence and the Police who acted on time and with precision to effect the arrest of the suspects. We further invite members of the public with information to come out and report these kinds of criminal activities to the law and security agencies.

We deserve a peaceful, secure and stabilized country in order to enjoy the fruit of our constitutional democracy. Advocates of death are therefore a great disappointment to what this country has so far achieved and thus need to be locked up in prison!

Rev. Mautji Pataki
SACC General Secretary

e-tolling - January 2012

In Defence of the Poor People of South Africa who are already over-burdened with tax and fuel levy, the SACC calls on Government to scrap the e-tolling system immediately.

South African Council of Churches - Khotso House, Johannesburg - Press Statement
19 January 2012

Call to Government to scrap e-tolling
The South African Council of Churches (SACC) in support of the call made by other civil society organisations including Cosatu, calls on the Government of South Africa to scrap completely the controversial e-tolling system that has been initiated by SANRAL in Gauteng Province.

Whereas we are aware that Government through the Minister of Transport brought the implementation of the project to a halt so that, as he says, other alternative ways of proceeding could be explored, we find it unacceptable and unaffordable for the poor people of this country who have no other viable public transport system to turn to, to be made to pay even much more than they are doing at the moment.

We are definitely mindful that once the e-tolling gets implemented, prices on basic food and fuel will rise while the people’s income levels remain the same and low. This system of doing economy is evil for it reduces human beings to mere objects meant to feed a system that does not improve but destroy their livelihood.

We hold strong the position that the South African government has the responsibility to ensure that the road infrastructure caters for the needs of its citizens. These citizens are already heavy-burdened with taxes and fuel levy where money for the maintenance of the road infrastructure should come from. Government’s argument that our tax base is not sufficient enough to take care of our public road infrastructural needs is lame and devoid of all accuracy if one was to take into consideration the report by the Auditor-General pointing to the fact that corruption and mismanagement of public funds is on the rise in this country. Therefore paying more taxes can only be interpreted to be making up for the difference attributed to corrupt activities.

It would therefore be in the interest of justice for the people of South Africa not to register for the e-tolling system and allow government to foot the bill.

Released by the Office of the General Secretary
Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary

South African Council of Churches - Press Statement on Department of Education in Limpopo - January 2012
Khotso House, Johannesburg

The South African Council of Churches is highly disturbed by reports from many parts of Limpopo Province that point to lack of stationery, books and other learning materials as schools re-opened for the new year of learning and teaching. The act is so unfortunate that it is tantamount to feeding learners darkness when they ask for light, ignorance when they ask for knowledge.

We find it inexcusable that the material that was supposed to have reached the schools by now has not yet been delivered at a time when learners and teachers are ready to start work. Apart from all these accusations and counter accusations as to whose responsibility it was to order books, we call upon the parents, communities, parent associations and civil society including churches to organize themselves and demand books, scholar transport and food-at-school on behalf of their helpless children who are clearly failed by those who are supposed to be facilitating their success. Strict deadlines must be adhered to in this regard because it would not be helpful for anyone to receive books in June.

In this embarrassing instance, communities, learners and teachers must refuse to be drawn into a mudslinging exercise that seeks to apportion blame on the National Department of Education which we learn took over the administration of Limpopo in December when books could have long been ordered.

This act is a violation of the learner’s right to education and therefore those who are responsible have to be drawn before court to answer for a deed so destructive in the life of the innocent people. It is criminal and therefore not a matter to be treated lightly when adult leaders and officials violate the constitution of this Republic.

Released by the General Secretary of SACC

Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary

Rev. Mautji Pataki, General Secretary
South African Council of Churches (SACC)
January 2012

“Glitzy Funerals” - A Capitalist Ploy to rip the Poor of their little earnings!

Thabo Rampola’s writing in the City Press Edition of 15 January captioned, “Let’s bury these glitzy funerals” demands an elevated attention as it echoes the sentiment already expressed by the SACC’s Triennial Conference Resolution 14 of 2004. That resolution reads as follows:

“As people are created in the image of God, we affirm this God-given dignity in our earthly life and even after death…and therefore extend our respect for life to those who have also passed on and their families. In respecting the dead, we should however not respect death and burial, but the person”.

The Conference, attended by just about 26 Member Churches including Church Leaders, went on to commit itself to the following programme of action:

To promote and invest the churches’ resources in life enhancing initiatives;
To call upon church members including leaders, ordained and lay, to make public pledges about their burials, i.e how they would wished to be buried in line with the spirit of this commitment;
To accompany the bereaved families with (financial) advice and guidance pre, during and post burials.

To cushion these noble ideas, Conference further resolved to invite all church members in South Africa to set up living legacies and endowment funds for their beloved. Instead of using huge sums of money for burial, funds could be channelled to establish bursary funds and memorials in the name of the departed person.
Like the resolution and the letter of its spirit, Rampola goes for the jugular vein from the onset, targeting values that are out to promote “crass materialism” and selfishness while eroding the basics of African and Christian values of bereavement. Indeed the world with all its cultures might have evolved over time but that is no justification to use human death, suffering and the loss life to justify the raking of massive profits by individuals who are only driven by greed and self-enrichment.
In his article, Rampola correctly argues that the public advertisements and the commercialization of funerals demonstrates a deliberate portrayal of black people to be the principal consumers of “glitzy funerals” and yet there are other population groups in the country who are by far wealthy and opulent but who are by design not targeted by these advertisements. This then leaves those behind the adverts with some tinge of racial innuendos and yet death knows no colour, wealth, poverty or social class for that matter. As to when and where it strikes, we all end up in the grave – in our case, a place elsewhere beneath the ground where it is highly impossible for the dead to receive their admirers.

Our point is to alert the unsuspecting prey of this hegemonic attack which comes in the name of “decent funeral” that it is in fact modesty and not display of opulence that lends decency to the way the living treat the dead. In Rampola’s words, “the very last but not least thing that should be erased from our list is the revered casket which takes away the largest amount of cash as we budget for a burial.”

Those who peddle and promote a lie that caskets are made of highly durable and costly can’t-get material valued at R50 000 and more as Rampola contends, only need to be exposed and their businesses paraded as exploiters of the poor in the name of decent service.

Communities, rich and poor, need to be dissuaded from investing in death for in it there are no returns. In other words life, including self-satisfaction, fulfilment and spiritual healing, cannot be attained through burying your loved one in a “glitzy” way. Those who are bent on this illusion are just showy victims of a highly capital-driven ideology which seeks to present wealth possession, materialism and affluence as affirmation of the worth and value of a human being even in death.

There is no beauty in a corpse and therefore no need exists to clothe it in fancy and expensive bed-linen as though it would ever feel the comfort normally reserved for the living. It is only when the mind fights reality that a corpse could be treated as a “living organic”. Otherwise it is the soul of the departed that lives.
In recent time and in pursuance of its own resolution, the SACC went into partnership with the Financial Services Board (FSB) on a financial wellness programme that seeks to educate communities on “modest funerals” and the value attached to them. Of course in our present-day South Africa you hear people referring to it being their right to bury the loved ones in any costly manner possible as long as they have the money to do so. This is definitely not the point. The point is people have to learn to be good stewards of the resources under their care so that other people who have none or less have the possibility to benefit from the same resources while still alive.

Investment is made wiser when its proceeds and dividend improve the lives of the less fortunate than to be splashed deep into the grave where no one stands to benefit. This is Christ’s teaching, to take care of one another and never to boast publicly of your wealth in from of those who are hungry, poor, unemployed and destitute. What do you think the biblical story of Lazarus and the rich man is all about if it doesn’t teach that it is a sin to brag about your possessions in front of those who can’t afford?

In my vocation I have come across family situations where after bereavement members are left destitute following failure to service the debt accrued from the funeral. As Rampola states that expensive and highly celebrated “lunch” is served at “breakfast” time I could only agree that it is an anomaly associated with funerals as the distinction between the two meals is naturally clear.

Let us wake up from this deep sleep and allow ourselves to be counted among those nations whose resources get used to advance life rather than celebrate death.

South African Council of Churches (SACC) Khotso House, Johannesburg
Press Statement
SACC Mourns the Death of Ilse Naudé.

The South African Council of Churches is deeply saddened by the death of Ilse Naude, wife to the late Rev. Dr Beyers Naude who once served as the Council’s General Secretary. The SACC coveys its heartfelt condolences to the family with great hope that the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom Ilse and the rest family have invested their trust, will bring healing.

We have always known Ilse to be the strong force and character behind Oom Bey’s ministry at a time when he had to disengage from the Afrikaner community following his convictions against apartheid and state theology. We remember how sad and difficult it was for him to arrive at such decision and yet with Ilse alongside him it was achievable. In Ilse, Oom Bey had a strong shoulder to cry on.

The South African Council of Churches thanks God for a life so well-lived and meaningful as Ilse’s life demonstrated. We wish it were possible for the nation to produce more of such women as Ilse so that the challenges we face today could be confronted with solid faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. So much was Ilse dependable that Oom Bey never felt lonely on a path that was destined to define him as a traitor. Throughout his house arrests, Ilse remained a symbol of hope for him and the children.

As we lay her to rest, our fulfilment is derived from her fighting spirit for justice and peace in our land. We hold no regret, as the ecumenical movement in this country and the world that we had a gift in Ilse at the time when we needed such as her. We may not as yet have achieved the goals that he lived and fought for as injustice and poverty continue to characterise our land. However, we are confident that one day we will achieve a nation where no one goes to bed hungry, without water and food.

The SACC will pay the family of Ilse and Beyers Naude a special pastoral visit in the next few days.

We pray to God to receive Ilse’s soul that she may rest in eternal peace.

Released by the Office of the General Secretary
Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary
02/01/2012

South African Council of Churches (SACC) Condemns Bomb Attacks on Christians in Nigeria

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) finds the bombing attacks on churches and Christians in Nigeria to be unacceptable and thus condemned in the strongest way possible. We find it even more insulting of the Christian movement that the attacks were planned to coincide with the celebrations of the birth of Christ. Christmas is about joy and peace, life and redemption. He whose birth gets celebrated was named by the Prophets to be The Prince of Peace – suggesting that he wouldn’t advocate for anyone’s death or injury. When we celebrate his birth, we are reminded of him as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Irrespective of who is behind the attack, the killing of other people for whatever reason is unjustified and does have no space in the hearts of the God-fearing. Christians need to be afforded their own space, equal to all other religions in the world, to worship God devoid of any such attacks as we have witnessed in Nigeria. It is not a choice but a duty on our part to come together for fellowship and glorify God. We therefore call upon all South Africans, Africa and the world to:

Hold national prayers in remembrance of the victims of this attacks
Express solidarity with those that are under attack
Extend word of condolence to the bereaved families
Pray for all the people of Nigeria including those behind the attacks
Campaign for a Peaceful Nigeria

The world is a better place to be when there is goodwill among its people.

Released by the Office of the General Secretary

Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary
26/12/2011

PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA		President Jacob Zuma’s Statement is a disappointment.
		The South African Council of Churches finds the statement by the President Jacob Zuma on the role of Christian faith in South Africa to be very disappointing and irrelevant to the project of building a nation where all religions receive equal respect and recognition. We are even taken aback by the fact that his statement is made out of no provocation. There is more sense when Christians take care of orphans and the aged because that is the command from our Lord Jesus Christ – to take care of one another, to love one another, feed the hungry and cloth the naked. It is this command about the vulnerable groups which brings out the solid foundation upon which the Christian faith is built.
Without going anywhere deep in history, the church has established some of the most solid health and education institutions where personality of high note were also produced. South Africans continue to live the legacy of such individuals. Our contribution to the liberation struggle against colonial and apartheid regimes speaks volumes of how much the Church has done. Those who will celebrate the Centenary of the liberation struggle in Mangaung next year will find that a Wesleyan Methodist Church has become a national heritage because community meetings used to take place there. This history cannot simply be erased from the face of our nation by a statement that seeks to demobilise Christians. We call upon the President to view Christians not as a threat but a community of believers whose mandate is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ whose core values are care, justice, peace, forgiveness, reconciliation, and many others intended to build our nation. Our intention is to live by these and make South Africa a happy home. Released by Office of the General Secretary The Revd. Mautji Pataki 22/12/2011

SACC
YOUTH FORUM

On the road to the SACC Youth Forum Elective Conference, Johannesburg
13 – 15 December 2011

As a result of 2008 SACC Youth Forum Church Youth Leaders’ Consultation, the Forum has gone through the restructuring process; as Dr Brigalia Bam was quoted in EcuNews of 1996 “the need for united Christian witness and action is as demanding in the new South Africa as ever before” and as such this in our view is very important. The ecumenical youth movement in South Africa must be consistent in being lively. Some of the changes made and those that will be proposed are not radical shifts in basic purpose but only in emphasis.

These proposed changes are meant to make the SACC Youth Forum lively, and most importantly relevant to the constituency we serve; while remaining prophetic. There is no doubt that the cornerstone of the churches and youth’s role in the societal development of our nation is through having youth who are united in purpose and critical in thinking, to create the desired change. The SACC Youth Forum is looking forward to a Conference which will change the course of history of our society and its people.

PRESS RELEASE
COP17 CMP7 6 DECEMBER 2011

South African Council of Churches (SACC)

Welcomes statement by the People’s Republic of China Urges Carbon Quartet to end Climate Insensitivity

DURBAN: SACC welcomes the statement by the People’s Republic of China (the number 1GHG polluter in terms of total GHG emissions* but not per capita) signaling that it is now ready to commit to a legally binding agreement on reduction of GHG’s. We find this position morally sensitive to the need to build world solidarity on matter affecting climate change.

A binding commitment during the Durban round of talks on Climate Change will strengthen both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and also benefit the BASIC group of countries (Brazil, South Africa, India & China) which includes the host nation.

SACC urges the remaining countries outside of the protocol to urgently re-examine their positions and to approach unilateral action with extreme caution. Without binding targets, further delays in committing to a global agreement on GHGs will lead the world to a 4 degree climate change, which translates into a 6 degree world for Africans. This will further sabotage efforts of the international community in attending to the most vulnerable communities -- the global poor, indigenous nations and the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). The profligate actions of the Carbon Quartet of Canada, Japan, Russia and the USA are already placing an unfair and unequal burden on the developing world. Such unilateral action can only be termed Climate Insensitivity and will surely backfire with dire consequences for humanity.

We can only question the motives the Carbon Quartet -- the lack of moral integrity and political leadership of those responsible -- particularly leaders who are today in Durban refusing to uphold Climate Justice and the Kyoto Protocol. USA is number 2, Canada is number 7, Russia number 4 and Japan number 5 respectively in terms of GHG emissions*.

Failure to abide by the will of majority of the Earth's citizens is surely testing the resolve of the international community and can only be interpreted as a lack of commitment by those most responsible for GHG emissions. This is clearly an insult to the most vulnerable who are now being denied access to a just global order which meets common and differentiated responsibilities, embraces inter-generational equity and promotes alternative development pathways.

The SACC is therefore extremely dismayed by the growing rift between rich and poor nations and especially those traditionally associated with scientific advancement who cannot deny ignorance of the effects of Climate Change.

We call upon the President of the African Union Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the President of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma, and the COP17 President Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to do whatever is needed in order to reaffirm the Kyoto Protocol and its associated mechanisms in order to end once and for all the tragedy of Climate Apartheid and the appalling situation in which those most responsible for GHG emissions continue to place an unfair and unequal burden on those least responsible.

We also congratulate all COP17 delegates in promoting ecological debt and climate change reparations via the creation of a range of mitigation and adaptation consultative Indabas.

Issued by The Revd. Mautji Pataki, SACC General Secretary

Contact: Keith Vermeulen
SACC Public Policy Liaison Office
082 523 0701

PRESS RELEASE
The South African Council of Churches (SACC)
Conference of Parties (COP) 17/ COP Members of Parties 7
SACC Resolution supporting the promotion of the Green Climate Fund

The 16th session of the Conference of Parties (COP) held in Cancun Mexico resolved to establish the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
Given the urgency and seriousness of climate change, the purpose of the GCF is to make significant contributions to the international community’s attempts to mitigate its effects.

The Fund seeks to make a significant contribution towards the achievement of the ultimate objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and, in the context of sustainable development, the Fund (GCF) will promote the paradigm shift towards low–emission and climate-resilient development pathways by providing support to developing countries to limit or reduce their Green House Gas emissions.

We further support The Fund on the proviso that it be:

(i) An ethical response to the Climate Change Convention;
(ii) Guided by the principles and provisions of the Convention ;
(ii) Operate in a transparent and accountable manner, guided by efficiency and effectiveness ;
(iii) Play a key role in channeling new, additional, adequate and predicatble financial resources to developing countries ; and
(iv) Catalyse climate finance, public and private, at international and national levels.
In support of the COP 16 decision taken at Cancun in Mexico, to establish the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the South African Council of Churches urges:
(1) The South African government to invite voluntary contributions from COP 17 participating nations to the GCF as compensation for the footprints of carbon emissions ; and
(2) All participants at COP17 to lobby international aviation companies, maritime agencies, international trading and investment companies to compensate developing countries for their historic and corporate responsibilities for carbon emissions by contributing to the GCF.

The Rt. Revd. J Seoka The Revd. M. Pataki
President SACC General Secretary SACC
0828931378 0828624396

Rev Mautji Pataki, SACC General Secretary

The Experience of Indigenous Churches of the Public role in the new Political Dispensation

By: The Rev Mautji Pataki, SACC General Secretary Presented at the University of Pretoria Theological Conference
10 November 2011
The Organizers of this Conference and the Rev. Dr Vuyani Vellem, Director of the Centre for Public Theology; Members of the Faculty of Theology, Professors and Other Theologians; Guests and Students; The Distinguished People of God.

Thank you very much for the invitation that would allow me to say the things I am going to say with great anticipation that they will make a contribution towards the realization of the objectives of this Conference. The organizers of this Conference have asked me to produce in particular some brief working notes on the public role to be played by the Indigenous community of churches within the new democratic dispensation as against their pre-liberation experience and then emerge with what could be the distinct signs and trends useful to strengthen the arm of these institutions post-liberation.

Further the organizers have suggested that in doing so I also draw some parallels with the public role that is being played or supposed to be played by the mainstream Christian churches post-liberation South Africa. Both these subjects find interrelations in so far as what the critical and core message of the Christian church is supposed to be in the public and social space. By the nature of its formulation this topic already suggests that before the new dispensation there was a particular kind of role and experience reserved only for the indigenous churches; and by implication role and experience that other churches outside the family of the indigenous would ordinarily not have played and acquired.

And indeed it is true that the experience of the African Indigenous Churches pre-liberation period were not the same as those of the others who were of foreign missionary traditions. Both their role and experience were obscured, neglected and demeaned by the attendant social and political systems of the time.

The formulation of this subject may further suggests that the role of the indigenous churches pre this new democratic dispensation is different from the one that these churches now play in the current new dispensation. This suggestion may not be a true reflection of the reality we have and I will shortly show why I make this assertion. Ordinarily one would think that the universal role of the Christian Church is to present the Lordship of Jesus Christ as Saviour in the world by making more of his disciples – converting non-believers into believers and practitioners of the Word. And whether the dispensation is new or old this role remains a gospel imperative for the Church as was commissioned by the Lord himself.

However, it might have dawned in the minds of the organizers of this Conference to broaden the discussion on this gospel imperative of the Church’s role as all Church throughout human history has always found itself ministering within particular and distinct socio-political contexts, systems and dispensations.

My contestation is that more than the role content is the socio-political environment and milieu that often necessitate discussions of this nature. My argument therefore is that whatever role churches play, whether indigenous or otherwise, if truthful to the gospel, remains the same. More than the role, it is the style of expressing the Lordship of Christ which causes those external and foreign to the practice to look the other way.

Ndou argues in his doctoral thesis on Indigenous Churches that African Indigenous churches “came into being because of the failures of the mainline churches to satisfy the religious needs of their converts”. (p161)

He further argues that, “the purpose of establishing the new movements by the indigenous people was not a move to ostracize the white missionaries who introduced the Christian religion”. (p162)

The religious needs in this argument refer to cultural rituals that are inherently intended to address the spirituality of the African people, who wanted to remain African practitioners even after receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. This is where the concept of African inculturation of the Christian faith was born.

Of course this was also in response to the concerted effort by the missionaries of western origin to convert the African people to Christ by also turning them into little Westerners. This ranged from name change to attire, the looks and language, what medical doctor to go to and so on – virtually things that have got no business to define the role of a Christian or Church in any society. In certain instances some of those who resisted this coercion were labeled rebels, backward and uncivilized.

So those who defined others as backward also labeled their form of worship and churches as “sects” without paying attention to the core values that such form of worship and church was teaching.

The role content of the African Indigenous churches has been largely guided by the teachings of the Lord in the midst of the political environment that was characterized by colonialism, later apartheid and all other sorts of segregation practices and policies. And therefore when all these political ideologies collapsed, with the new democratic dispensation setting in, the role content of the African Indigenous Churches in South Africa did not require any redefinition but only to be liberated.

The liberation of the African Indigenous Churches meant that the Lord Jesus Christ could now be worshipped in Sepedi, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Xitsonga, Tshivhenda, iSindebele, Setswana, Sesotho and so on, because these languages were now liberated and for the first time called, “official” by the constitution governing the new dispensation.

So, the African Indigenous churches’ original role of presenting the Lordship of Jesus Christ as Saviour could then be expressed without the old feeling that the Lord was a Western formulation only to be adored through “piano” and not “moropa”, guitar and not “ditlhwantlhwadi”. This is what the new dispensation brought about – the affirmation of those previously demeaned.

If I were to be asked to speak to certain specific social roles that the Indigenous Churches are known for, I would immediately refer to their firm identification with the rhythm of the African continent, its values for peace and communal living expressed through the values of sharing, caring and respect. These values are all core to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ only to be threatened by those who aspire for competition, materialism and individualism as values. Therefore, in this sense the role of the African Indigenous Church is self-defined and remains in line with what the Lord Jesus Christ taught.

Of great emphasis is their public role in spiritual healing – believing strongly that diseases do attack not only the physical body but the spirit as well. In this regard no believer can be whole unless the spirit is healthy. So, in worship prayer for the sick is a common practice. What I hear these churches say is that only if our nation could be spiritually healthy, the nation will prosper.

Concluding on painting the picture of a South Africa whose society is still unequal and indifferent to issues of social justice, we need to share the experiences of a church that was once oppressed and now liberated – a church that was once demeaned and now affirmed – a church that represents the spiritual aspirations of the poor majority of our population – believers who never questions issues of faith but only believe and trust in the Lord for their salvation.

Much of this role and experience of ensuring that the socio-political and economic freedom is achieved has been played largely by the so-called missionary churches. While playing this role, I have experienced a sense that these churches could not operate in silos to the exclusion of the majority Christians who also belong to the African indigenous family of churches.

As though it is the same as yesterday, the world has taken quite a drastic turn as it globalised. The space has become smaller and there is a lot of unhealthy competition for the world’s natural resources and wealth. In his recent lecture to the Law Society of Limpopo, the former South African President Thabo Mbeki refers to the “recolonisation of Africa” by the powerful nations. This already presents a new challenge for the Church never to allow the second round of oppression to visit the African shores.

The theory of the recolonisation of Africa is based on the battle over much of the natural resources that are found in Africa. It is not an accident that you currently have an Africa that is experiencing a lot of instability as in Libya, Sudan and South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Egypt and so on. This systematic destabilization of Africa is intended to justify the occupation of Africa by the super powerful nation…and it must be resisted using the gospel of Jesus Christ which liberates all humanity from any form of bondage.
The Church has to work for social justice which will translate into peace and stability in the world.

And it would only pay dividend to the nation, as I said at the beginning of this notes, for both traditions to remain true to the gospel by presenting the Lordship of Christ to the unbelievers. Guided by the experiences and the environment in which this must be achieved, I see no contradiction between those who work for social justice and those who ensure that the nation is spiritually healthy. Both are the liberative approach to the preaching of Jesus Christ’s gospel. More than a contradiction, these roles and experiences are complimentary.

Now that there is no longer apartheid and colonialism, both the African Indigenous Churches and those of missionary descend must maximize the Christian space by working together and together liberate Africa from the shackles of its oppressors.

I have said all the things I have said because I hold strong the words of the Apostle Paul that, “you are all God’s children by believing in Christ Jesus. Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ’s name have clothed yourself with Christ. There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27-29)

I thank you

A holistic approach identifies not only individuals who have succeeded only in creating innovative enterprises but also those who have created a life of significance and well integrated to lead a balanced life of work, family, community and active lifestyle. Leading a life of significance not only leads to greater success at work, but also a greater success at home and in the community.

The lives of these individuals are supported by a robust system, infused with healthy, diverse relationships to help one achieve own goals. This is evident in improved relations in their lives. Through creativity, they can easily adapt to new circumstances, courage to experiment with new arrangements and communication tools to meet new expectations.

Rev. Mautji Pataki, the General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches shared with us the story of his journey and what motivated his decisions in life.

“The proper function of a man is to live, not to exist” – Jack London According to Christopher Gergen and Gregg Vanourek in their book titled “Life Entrepreneurs”, they hinted on “ordinary people creating extra-ordinary lives” These are people who have led their lives, created opportunities for themselves and others, followed their passion, and acted on their beliefs, rather than live and wait for a lucky break. Just like the environment we live in, their lives are ever-evolving and they are prepared to align their plans accordingly, towards the vision they have created.

AN INTERVIEW WITH AFRICAN ENTREPRENEUR
FOR GLOBAL ENTREPRENEUR WEEK

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEUR | AFRICAN ENTREPRENEUR

SACCYF

Youths in bid to save the planet
(Sowetan News Live - 8 November 2011)
( GO TO SOWETAN NEWS ARTICLE )

MORE than 200 youths representing the African continent are coming to Soweto

The youths will take part in the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to be held in Durban from November 28 to December 9.

The South African Council of Churches Youth Forum arranged for a caravan to travel from Nairobi, Kenya, to Durban, to teach youth about the environment. The forum's Bongani Luvalo said from Nairobi that the 'We Have Faith - Act Now for Climate Justice' caravan will travel to Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Botswana before coming to Soweto. "In all these countries, we will meet youth and try to understand their environmental issue.

"We will share issues of sustainable development and youth issues around climate change. When the bus gets here, we will have information-sharing sessions," Luvalo said. He said one of the aims of the caravan is to plan and set up strategies for active youth participation and information sharing at COP17, focusing on influencing the process and the outcomes of the negotiations. The caravan is expected in Johannesburg on November 21. "From Johannesburg, the caravan will travel to Durban, where the youth will be received by global faith leaders at Kings Parks Stadium," Luvalo said. Performers at the stadium will include HHP, YFM's Mo Flava, Zan D and Andy; Norwegian Ten Sing and Kenyan Julian.

"We understand that driving through the countries is not very environmentally friendly so when we drive back, we will be planting trees in all the cities that we stop in," Luvalo said.

The Death of Muammar Gaddafi

“Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you and be kind to those who hate you.” – Luke 6:27 and Matthew 5:44

The assassination of Muammar Gaddafi, leader of Libya for over 40 years is an explicit demonstration of the brutal outcomes war would always have on human life. Whereas those who hated him and were oppressed by his regime will understandably celebrate and call his death victory, those who loved him will never accept that this is the way in which their hero was supposed to die. The result of this division is a protracted conflict that will never end as observed in countries such as Iraq and many others where leaders get killed for political reasons.

The SACC remains convinced and unmoved that for Africa to prosper in stability there is no need to allow external forces such as NATO to determine its fate; but rather Africans themselves through organs such as the African Union must be allowed to exercise the right to find solutions to their difficult problems.

This is because as Martin Luther King Jnr said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction…The chain reaction of evil – hate begetting hate; wars producing more wars – must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation.”

Statement released by the Office of the General Secretary


		SOUTHERN AFRICAN FAITH COMMUNITIES’ ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE (SAFCEI) *“Faith communities committed to cherishing living earth.”*
		Office Tel: (+27) (0)21 701 8145 www.safcei.org.za secretary@safcei.org.za
Climate Justice – Lasting Peace Climate change is the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. All nations must take action – urgently. It is a moral and ethical issue – driven by human behaviour and values. It must therefore be solved by moral principles and a willingness “to do what is right.” An over-emphasis by negotiators on financing, trade and offsets continues to delay the action needed to bring about immediate and sufficient change. We, members of faith communities of Africa, believe it essential that the nations of the world come to an agreement based on moral principles of justice and equity at the COP 17 meeting to be hosted by South Africa in 2011. This will mean developing clean energy, reducing global CO2 emissions, taking steps to stem biodiversity loss and providing resources for adaptation among the developing countries of the world. Sixteen previous Conferences of Parties (COP) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) have failed to reach an agreement that will reduce emissions to the level needed to combat climate change. The faith communities of Africa are therefore organising 3 workshops in preparation for COP 17 to: promote a theologically sound framework for responding to the challenges of climate change set out a plan of action for faith communities to support the effectiveness of the UN negotiations challenge South Africa as host country to set an example and give a lead agree on the moral principles and the support to be given to African governments in playing a leadership role founded on the principles of justice, equity and compassion and to present a united voice from Africa’s faith communities. Southern African Workshop: 4 to 6 May in Lusaka, Zambia for faith leaders from South Africa, as host of COP 17, and neighbouring countries that hold extensive coal reserves or are reliant on South Africa for energy. Pan-African Workshop: 7 to 8 June at the UN Centre in Nairobi co-hosted with the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) who will provide the venue at the UN Centre in Nairobi. We need to feed our conclusions to the UNFCCC Intersessional meeting in Bonn from 6 to 17 June and communicate the principles that should guide the negotiators and governments of our respective countries well before COP 17. South African Workshop: 19-21 September for South African faith leaders to motivate and inspire the faith communities of South Africa to pray for and participate in the COP faith events. Sunday 27 November: the day before the 2011 COP commences, a major gathering of faiths – possibly a rally in Durban’s new football stadium – led by religious leaders of the world. The purpose is to issue a clear call to the political leaders of the world that for the sake of our people and our planet, and in obedience to our Creator, COP 17 must arrive at an agreement based on moral principles that help protect and preserve the world for future generations. Sunday 4 December: a worship service to pray for the success of the talks. Bishop Geoff Davies 6th October 2011


SACC YF Press Statement, 07 October 2011 SACC Youth Forum launches its Climate Change campaign in preparation for the COP17. The South African Council of Churches Youth forum will this weekend launch its campaign on climate change in preparation for the Durban COP17 in December under the theme “We have faith, Act now for climate justice”. The launch is outside the Loch Logan Rose Garden (Macufe Festival venue) on Saturday the 08th October and the Sunday service will be a Zuka Baloi Stadium in Welkom. After the Interfaith Leaders launch of the COP17 petition on Climate Justice at the Koinonia Conference Centre, Botha’s Hill, KwaZulu-Natal on the 21st September 2011, the SACC Youth Forum with its Provincial Chapters and member church’s youth structures put together a draft program of action to mobilize young people in South Africa to support the demands of the interfaith community. Also the SACC Youth Forum’s program of action requests those in support of the demands to sign the petition; those petitions will be handed over to the Minister of International Relations Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, at an interfaith rally on the 27th November at Kings Park Ruby Stadium in Durban. Also the campaign will seek to raise awareness, sensitize people on issues of climate change and share information. The SACC Youth Forum will be hosting a number of provincial consultations and piloting awareness outreaches. The campaign targets every place where you will normally find young people, be it a church, synagogue, sports field, chisa-nyama place, shopping complex, tertiary institutions, taxi ranks etc.. We hope to strengthen the voice of the interfaith, climate change activists and other civil society organizations as they seek to influence our government to favor millions of people that are affected by climate change and not favor profit agendas. We conclude our program on the 21 November 2011, as we receive our African counter parts who will be travelling from Nairobi traversing through Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and finally stopping in Soweto. The African Youth Climate Justice Caravan will bring together over 100 young environmentalists, artists and climate change advocates. The caravan shall be launched at the end of the Youth Conference on Climate Change (2nd-4th Nov) in Nairobi. In every country that the caravan will pass, there will be a climate justice show with famous local artists, greetings from religious and political leaders as well as performances by the caravan participants. Their stop will be in preparation for the final concert to take place in Soweto on the 22nd November 2011. The caravel, with a delegation of youth from South African Council of Churches Youth Forum will make its way to Durban on the 23rd November with a lunch stop in the City of Ekurhuleni, where the Executive mayor, Members of the Mayoral Committee and youth leaders in the region will greet the African Youth Climate Justice Caravan and also sign the petition. The African Youth Climate Justice Caravan will be received by a massive interfaith rally in the Kings Park Rugby Stadium on November 27thtogether with other caravans. Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu is the patron of the event, and other prominent guests are invited. The caravan will be received by fellow youth gathered at the 7th Conference of Youth (COY 7). Consensus has been built among climate scientists that the current climate crises have been caused by human action, and that urgent action is required to save the planet. As the South African Council of Churches Youth Forum we strongly believe climate change is one of the biggest threats to development and livelihoods in our time. The impacts of climate change in Kenya and Africa cannot be underestimated, with the recent cases of devastating droughts, Nile River for instance, and floods in many parts of Africa, as well as increased intensity of tropical diseases like Malaria. As the South African Council of Churches Youth Forum we seek to do something different and powerful to communicate the urgency with which we must address climate change. This is a new way of doing advocacy. It will be challenging and most significantly, it will be enlightening, impactful and world changing; just maybe it’s the difference we’ve all been wanting to make......WE HAVE FAITH! Issued by the South African Council of Churches Youth Forum For more information, please contact Bongani Luvalo (National Spokesperson) Landline:(011)241-7832 Cellphone:0720875798 Email: luvalob@gmail.com

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*** 2011 ***

South African Council of Churches
62 Marshall Street
Khotso House

Johannesburg

South Africa needs an urgent dialogue on its moral compass.

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) in collaboration with The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa (TEASA) has been observing the current issues occupying public space in South Africa and since come to an uncontested conclusion that at the heart of the national problem in this country is “South Africa’s complete loss of moral compass”. As the result of a number of economic and socio-political factors, the nation has over time developed a very blurred and poor understanding of morality and this highly manifest itself in how political leaders, religious leadership, business captains, communities and individuals generally conduct themselves.

The situation is made even worse by the collapse of the government-led Moral Regeneration Movement which has so far failed to inspire South Africans in a direction worthy of a moral and ethical conduct. At the core of its failure is the movement’s utter disregard for family values and a clear inability to create harmony between the much-publicised human rights culture and the daily experiences and struggles of ordinary South Africans. This gap has allowed some leaders and communities to peddle and sustain inequality and disregard for the sacredness of human life as values within the national discourse – and this needs to be challenged.

On a daily basis South Africans are fed with media reports that point to a deepening culture of corruption – which bodes ill for the country. This culture is characterised by a lavish life style led by ruling elites at the expense of the South African tax payer on the basis that this is presumably `allowed’ by the letter of relevant policies or so-called “handbook” which is authored in a manner that flies across values that could be saving the country from it self-destruction.

This disregard for the protection of the tax payer’s interests and the consistent parade of open opulence in a country where so many still suffer poverty, unemployment and neglect confirms our conclusion that we need a moral and ethical code to even guide public policy. We find it completely unacceptable, in a country with deepening inequalities, where 25% of workers are unemployed and close on 50% of youth are neither at school or being trained for gainful employment that leaders should continue to live as though nothing is fundamentally wrong. The maintenance of this trend suggests that the abuse of power and public resources is not merely an aberration, but has become an article of faith of our government.

Further, one would have thought that government that prides itself as a champion of the poor and the disadvantaged would go beyond the letter of “policy” which is not even informed by the material realities confronting ordinary South Africans in its demonstration of its concern for the poor.

It is our view that such behaviour as is reported about the Minister Sicelo Shiceka, Police Commissioner Bheki Cele and others, who have been guilty of such negative reporting in recent weeks and months, raises serious concern about their fitness to rule, their moral consciousness and readiness to serve South Africans with humility.

In this regard we support recommendations of the Public Protector and the view of the President to act swiftly and decisively to relieve them of their duties until all relevant investigations have been completed. We believe that such investigation will be necessary in order to establish the facts, and to clear those so negatively reported on in the event that the media was less than fair in their representation of the facts.

The current stand-off and court battle between AfriForum and the President of the ANC Youth League is yet another such demonstration that our path to national reconciliation is highly littered with inaccuracies and avoidance of moral obligations the country in general has on the poor. In our view, true reconciliation will only be possible once the whole struggle around issues of justice would have been dealt with fully.

Just how Andries Tatane, an activist from Ficksburg in the Free State dies at the hands of the police is yet another indication of how those who control state power are able to use it abusively against the very same people who cry for protection and social services.
Someone still has to come out and convince the nation that Tatane was worth dying at the time when he was calling upon the authorities to provide clean water for the local community of Ficksburg.

When you see politicians going to church supposedly for worship and yet heavily followed by media cameras and later interviews on their electioneering campaigns, then we must conclude that this nation’s moral bar has gone rather too low and it would later become extremely difficult for such politicians to respect and to listen to the Church. The question must be asked, “why is it that you hardly have the same leaders coming to the church ordinarily outside the election season?” Indications are such that it is more of their pomposity and arrogance that is on display rather than them humbling themselves in worship.

On the contrary when the poor come to church there are no such cameras. They come to church because they strong believe God will hear their prayers and change their situation for the better. They need no cameras because they do not represent power and bling. So in the vocabulary of media they do not represent anything news worthy. They are nonenties who only make news once a politician visits their church. This is immoral because fundamentally the core of church business is not to promote politicians but worship and glorification of the Lord.

In the same way we need someone to convince this nation that the lives of those leaders who were shot and killed in Mpumalanga Province over time had committed an offence to warrant their killings. We unfortunately hear nothing in this regard. What kind of moral code are we building for this country if people, fathers and husbands are killed for their own participation in a democratic order? These are national questions which beg answers.

We also take great offence at the way state institutions such as the Crime Intelligence continue to be abused to serve internal political party processes within the ANC. This is another high level of corrupt tendencies that must be equally investigated to allow those who are guilty to face the prosecution.

Finally, we take a dim view of how unethical the mining sector conducts itself in its relations with rural communities where a lot of communities are never full beneficiaries of the mining activities.
This relates to other companies who do business without due regard for ethical business code. This also affects some of those South African companies who do business even beyond the South African borders. Issues of environmental impact assessment are often neglected and this had led to some many complications in relation to climate. We need to be ready to confront this truth as a nation and make our collective moral response at the COP17, an International Conference taking place in Durban at the end of this year.

On the basis of all these worrying developments in the country, the SACC working in collaboration with TEASA and other civil society organisation will convene a national dialogue on the moral compass of this country in order to commit everyone to become a moral agent – starting from leaders from all sectors to individuals, communities and social players. This dialogue will take place in the next three months.

Released by the Office of the General Secretary in Johannesburg on 25/04/2011

Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary
Contact: 082 862 4396

South African Council of Churches

62 Marshall Street, Johannesburg, 2000
Tel. (011) 241 7815

Press Statement for immediate Release

SACC holds its Central Committee in Kempton Park, Gauteng Province.

About 100 Clerics, Church Leaders, Christian Women and Youth drawn from the SACC Member Churches across the country will gather at Kempton Park in Gauteng Province to attend the proceedings of the SACC Central Committee starting from the 07th to the 08th June 2011. The meeting takes place at the Lakeview Airport Lodge.

The Central Committee – a body which deals with SACC policy – takes place under the theme, “Following the Way, standing for the Truth and seeking the Life: SACC Reclaiming and Revitalising the Spirit of Christian Witness and Prophetic Ministry” .

Among some of the dignitaries who will address Conference are Prof. Barney Pityana (Rector of the College of Transfiguration) and Mr. Lawson Naidoo from Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC). Both of them will address the sub-theme, “Corruption: A threat to Democracy in South Africa”.

Both the theme and the sub-theme have been highly inspired by an observation that if society was to continue dealing with corruption as a material than spiritual problem, we are likely not about to win the battle as a nation. There is a demand on our part to spiritualise corruption and target it as an evil practice that has to do more with immorality and insensitivity towards ethical conduct.

In line with the same theme, the Opening Address by the President of the SACC, Bishop Jo Seoka, will focus on painting a picture of how deep corrupt practices have gone in our society including in churches, business, politics, families etc.

The Committee will also receive the General Secretary’s Report which will convey all activities that the Council is involved in throughout all the Provinces and the country in general. It is envisaged that a lot of resolutions will flow from this report.

Whereas media interviews will be conducted throughout the proceedings, a Press Conference addressed by the President will convene on the 08th June 2011 starting at 14h00 on the meeting premises.

Released by the Office of the General Secretary in Johannesburg on 01 June 2011.

Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary – Contact Number 082 862 4396

South African Council of Churches

Office of General Secretary
62 Marshall Street, Khotso House, Johannesburg

Media Statement for Immediate Release

SACC Leadership Meeting with President Jacob Zuma

Over time the SACC had made certain observations with regard to Government’s performance and its reaction to certain national issues. Subsequently a planned meeting between the leadership of SACC and The Presidency took place on Friday the 10 June 2011 and the following were raised and fully discussed:

The unrelenting acts of corruption that continue to bedevil not only the public service but private and other sectors of the South African society. The President acknowledged that indeed corruption has become a pandemic and that in certain instances government through its legislations is able to expose and deal with the culprits wherever they are found.
On some of the specific issues such as the General Commissioner Bheki Cele and Minister Sicelo Shiceka, the President made a commitment that he will act accordingly on these matters once the report from the Public Protector’s Office would have been completed and submitted to him.
The President also challenged the SACC to put in place in place practical programmes that could engage both the public and the private sectors in dealing with corruption. In this regard, he expressed the government’s readiness to co-operate and work in partnership with churches.
When SACC raised the concern of churches, The President acknowledged that the misuse of Jesus Christ’s name during electioneering campaigns was regrettable because indeed it has caused offence within the Christian circles and that it is something that must never be allowed to happen again. Both delegations found it divisive that the name of the Lord who lived for unity should be used to advance political allegiance.
It was announced in the meeting that Government will be holding a Religious Summit within the next two months to address issues around service delivery. This is based on government’s desire to enter into partnership with faith communities to ensure that its programmes on job creation and delivery of social services receive support from communities. The leadership of the SACC received this announcement with great appreciation and committed the Church’s participation at the proposed Summit.
Whereas the SACC raised its concerns around the Protection of Information Bill which is before Parliament to the effect that it is viewed as a way to protect certain vital information away from public knowledge to the extent that even corrupt practices could be shielded, the President made a commitment that he will take all such factors into consideration before appending his signature. His emphasis was on the fact that the bill has to comply with the Constitution.
On Police brutality against unarmed protesters, the President acknowledged that the use of excessive force against citizens who pose no danger to society and the Police is unacceptable and further gave an indication of how quick it was for those Police who acted wrongfully to be arrested. He urged the SACC to support these initiatives and allow the due process of law against such elements.

Finally, the SACC received the President’s commitment for further and regular updates on issues that affect the African continent including peace, mediation and stability initiatives in some other countries. The SACC received this intention with great appreciation as the Church works with other National Councils of Churches, the All African Conference of Churches and other Regional Ecumenical Agencies to ensure peace on the African continent.

Released by the Office of General Secretary on 15 June 2011 in Johannesburg. Contact 0828624396

South African Council of Churches

62 Marshall Street, Khotso House, Johannesburg

Press Statement:

JOHANNESBURG- The saga around the court judgement against the ANC Youth League President Mr Julius Malema on the singing of the struggle song, Dubul’ ibunu and the general reaction through which the judgement was received are an indicative of our nation’s failure to effect the programme for national reconciliation. The reality is that the nation has over years failed to deal with its divided past in a manner that would contribute towards building a non-racial and reconciled society where justice and equality are the key values of our democracy.

In as much as there are some people who argue that the judgement is going to receive resistance as it tempers with the heritage of the liberation struggle and movement, there are also those who celebrate the pronouncement and are satisfied that they will no longer live in fear. The decision by the ANC to appeal the judgement is yet another indication that the matter is far from over.

The SACC finds this judgement to be an opportunity for all South Africans to debate national reconciliation, social cohesion and nation-building openly. As a result our call to the people of South Africa is to participate fully in giving content to national reconciliation, implementing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) and agree on a common value system for our nation. At the moment we have no agreed upon values that practically bind us together as a nation.

Democracy is not only about voting and electing a government. People who for a long time were excluded from economic activity and their cultural practices must be allowed the space to live side by side with those who have long been advantaged by the political system of the past. National reconciliation remains hollow if it fails to affirm the weak and reassure the marginalized that they too have the social space to occupy in the life of this nation.

SACC clearly detest anything, be it symbolic or ritualistic that continues to polarize the South African nation, undermine the oneness to which Christ calls all of us. On the other hand we embrace all things that promote unity, justice, peace and social stability.

Released by the Office of the General Secretary on 13 Sepetember 2011.

Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary
Contact No. 082 862 4396

South African Council of Churches

62 Marshall Street, Johannesburg

SACC accepts the withdrawal of Chief Justice Nqcobo as an honest decision.

The SACC receives the decisive withdrawal of Chief Justice Nqcobo from the extension of his term of office with appreciation. By taking this decision, the Chief Justice has earned our respect as a man of integrity. This is because should he have continued with the appointment as announced by the President, we would have remained concerned for at stake was his integrity and that of the bench.

The Constitutional Court has so far done well to maintain the independence of judiciary in this country and this is the trend which must never be brought to doubt by any decisions made by government.

The SACC understands and hold that both the President and the Chief Justice did nothing illegal as other legal opnion makers made the point However, once an impression was created that the extension of his term of office was surrounded with controversial, it immediately demanded of him to step down so that his reputation and that of the judiciary remains doubtful.

We call upon South Africans to learn from this humble example and take leaf. Chief Justice Nqcobo’s decision puts the interests of the country. With this decision he emerges much stronger as he now occupies the high moral ground. Those who are in leadership positions must always be alert to the fact that the interests of South Africa supersede personal interests.

The SACC thanks the Chief Justice for the term of office he served and wish him well in all the other endeavors he shall pursue as he serves the country in other capacities.

Statement released by the Office of the General Secretary in Johannesburg on 28 July 2011.

Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary

Contact: 082 862 4396

South African Council of Churches
62 Marshall Street

Johannesburg

P.O. Box 62098
Marshalltown
2107

Press Statement for Immediate Release

VIOLENT PROTESTS ARE A SERIOUS CONCERN TO THE CHURCHES IN SA

Johannesburg- The violent developments associated with poor delivery of social services in Zandspruit (West of Johannesburg) and some other parts of the country is a rude re-awakening call to the authorities and yet an indication of just how destructive things can turn out to be if Local Government Councilors and political parties continue to ignore the needs of the people.

Our early warning to South Africans leadership is that all effort must be done to save this democracy lest we walk the path of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and many other parts of the world where social instability reigns.

It is becoming even more apparent that in areas where local leaders fail to provide leadership and offer basic social services to the communities, people have now resorted to display their agitation and anger in a violent way. While we find the use of violence and the destruction of property to be unacceptable in a democracy, we understand the anger and the frustration of the poor who are confronted with the daily reality of having to live without jobs, decent shelter and food in a country where leaders display opulence.

It is also concerning that as we approach the Local Government Elections we see more and more of protests that have to do with how candidates’ lists have been finalized. In other instances it is reported that leaders who are a discredit to their communities are been forced on to the people who would later have to vote for them. We wish political parties could respect the desires of communities and allow internal democracy to lead their choice of candidates.

Over years, South Africa has always produced credible elections that have been lauded by international, regional and local observer missions. It is a record that we must, as a nation, strive to keep for it is a good example of how democracy works. Of course we also accept that elections on their own are not a demonstration of a living democracy.

Our appeal to police is to restrain the use of excessive force because it is this approach that aggravates the emotions of protestors. We similarly appeal to communities to use the non-violent methods of protest because that could only lend credence to the genuine struggles.

Our final appeal goes to government and political leaders never to take the needs of communities for granted. It is indeed an act of dishonesty that an attempt to deliver social services to the communities comes mostly at the time of electioneering. Our conviction is that communities are entitled to these services and therefore government is not doing any favour when it delivers such services. It is a public mandate that government must meet.

Statement released by the Office of the General Secretary

Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary
Contact Number: 0828624396
31 March 2011

Press Statement for Immediate Release: 12 April 2011

The leadership and membership of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) join, in solidarity, the people of Swaziland who will today express their demand for the establishment of a democratic government and the rule of law in their country.

Having participated in the struggle for democracy and the liberation of South Africa and its people, the SACC is fully aware that such a struggle that seeks to emancipate people from oppression is never an easy one. We are only too hopeful that the authorities in Swaziland will act with restraint and allow the peaceful demonstrations to proceed without interruptions.

There comes a time in the history of any nation to determine its own destiny by using systems of governance that advance their aspirations for a better life. The Lord Jesus Christ came so that humanity may have life in its fullness. This fullness is realized when people are not deprived of their rights including access to social services such as shelter and food, jobs and land, peace and justice. This is what we understand the people of Swaziland to be yearning for.

And although democracy is not in itself an answer to the situation in which the people of Swaziland find themselves, its establishment will go some distance to assist them to realize an enabling political environment that guarantees human rights and freedom. We therefore fully support their demand for a constitution that will entrench these human rights and freedoms.

Our appeal to the monarch is never to be frightened by the call for democracy but rather be excited by the prospects that come with the liberation of his people as they begin to express themselves freely in an open society. Democracy, as we saw in South Africa, does not exclude anybody. It takes into consideration the existence of traditional leadership, religious institutions, and business entities in as much as it does with political leadership. Thus, we are hopeful that his role will be protected by the new constitution.

We also call upon the government of the Republic of South Africa working together with other SADC counterparts to deploy sufficient resources that could assist the process of democratizing Swaziland without delay. This includes the commitment to engage with the Swaziland Government in pursuance of a solution that could bring stability to the region. It is a process that must be afforded full attention as a contribution to peace-building.

Finally, the South African Council of Churches invites the Christian community throughout the region to pray for Swaziland on this day and to allow the Lord to guide its people in their call for freedom and liberty.

Released in Johannesburg by the Office of the General Secretary

Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary
Contact: 082 862 4396

Press Statement for Immediate Release

SA deserves credible Local Government Elections

The SACC observes with grave concern how in some certain instances Political Parties contesting the coming Local Government Elections fail to exercise tolerance and in the process threatening what they committed themselves to on the day they signed the IEC Code of Conduct.

Reports that there are people who get attacked for canvassing votes for their favourite candidates in certain areas and that certain political parties’ posters are vandalized while of recent time certain politicians’ names are used in campaigns that discredit other parties and without them have played any part in such campaigns, are worrisome and need to be discouraged in all possible ways.

Allegations of personal attack on a woman who was walking on the streets of Erkhuruleni Municipality on the on the basis that she support a different party from her assailants, the alleged discrediting of Minister Trevor Manual in a pamphlet that purports to have been authored by him, the removal of political party posters in Meyerton and certain parts of the country – all point to a trend of intolerance which needs to be attended to.

The truth be said, this is going to be one of the most highly contested elections because at the heart of it are matters that have to do with the way social services are being delivered or not delivered in certain local areas and municipalities. However, this does not mean political parties and their members have the license to disregard certain moral standards and values governing the elections.

We appeal to all South Africans, and in particular political parties, to conduct themselves in such manner that does not undermine democracy or threaten the freedom of South Africans to express their will on the day of elections. We do not find reason why people should appeal to dirty tricks, violence and dishonesty when preparing for these elections.

Above all the things that must be done throughout these elections is to promote peace and ensure that the outcome of the elections is credible. Every South African citizen who qualifies to vote is called upon to exercise the right to vote and put in place a government of choice with the responsibility to provide basic social services to the people of this country.

When Jesus Christ speaks of him having come so that people must “have life and have life in abundance” he was referring to a system that would be based on justice, peace and human dignity. This is what we should and must all strive for in this country. There must not be any justification of denying people their rights under a dispensation where freedom, liberty and human rights are the basic values.

Released in Johannesburg on 12 May 2011 by the Office of the General Secretary.

Rev. Mautji Pataki
General Secretary
Contact: 082 862 4396

*** 2010 ***

The Dignity of Resistance in Solidarity: 2 Samuel 21:1-14

Dr Allan Boesak's theological reflections, shared on March 28, 2010 at the SACC consultation on Palestine