Violence Must End for Credible Zim Talks,
Churches Say
The National Executive Committee has issued a strong
call for the cessation of violence in Zimbabwe as a necessary condition for credible talks.
Church leaders said Robert Mugabe's government had primary responsibility for halting the
violence, which has reached alarming levels. They said the negotiations must make space
for all voices to be heard, and they slammed the government's "incoherent and ad hoc"
responses to xenophobic attacks.
Council Condemns "Unhelpful" Approach
to Undocumented Refugees
SACC leaders have reiterated their strong condemnation
of hostility towards foreign nationals and their willingness to work with public officials to
facilitate the reintegration of displaced people into communities, where feasible. In this
context, the Council has been "appalled" by the recent actions of the South African Police
Service and the Department of Home Affairs officials at the Glenanda shelter. Prof. Tinyiko
Maluleke, President of the SACC, said their behaviour "makes a mockery of government's
commitment to respect the rights of foreigners."
Statement of the Ecumenical Summit
on Zimbabwe
Delegates from around the region adopted a strongly-
worded statement at the end of their four-day summit. The statement asks SADC
governments to refuse to recognise former President Robert Mugabe's illegitimate
regime and to impose targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe. It also urges President Mbeki
to intensify his efforts to mediate the crisis and to refrain from any action that might
be seen to compromise his impartiality.
Summit Backs Zimbabwe
Sanctions
Church leaders from around the region have strongly
endorsed a call for the imposition of targeted sanctions against Zimbabwe
as a practical measure to loosen former President Robert Mugabe's "illegitimate"
grip on power and promote a negotiated political settlement.
"The Drought is Ending" Ecumenical Leader
Tells Zimbabwe
In his sermon at the opening of an ecumenical summit
on Zimbabwe, Council for World Mission Moderator Rev. Dr. Roderick Hewitt told
worshippers that a day of accountability is coming for Zimbabwe and former
President Robert Mugabe. He likened Mugabe's unjust rule to that of King Ahab
and called on churches to speak out and to work vigorously for justice and
peace in Zimbabwe.
Ecumenical Leaders to Convene Zimbabwe
Summit
The SACC, together with the Council for World Mission
and two SACC member denominations, will convene an international ecumenical
summit on Zimbabwe. Entitled "Overcoming Fear by Faith: Churches in Solidarity
with the People of Zimbabwe", the meeting will bring together more than 60 church
and community leaders to explore ways in which churches can bring their faith to
bear in practical ways in support of the quest for justice, peace and reconciliation
in Zimbabwe.
SACC Calls for Stronger Action on
Zimbabwe
In the wake of Zimbabwe's farcical one-candidate
presidential "run-off election" on Saturday, the Council calls on nations to refuse to
recognise the illegitimate leadership of former President Robert Mugabe and to
impose sanctions on Zimbabwe in order to intensify pressure for a political settlement
there.
SACC Executive Condemns Zimbabwe
Violence
At an extraordinary meeting on 23 June, the SACC
National Executive condemned the intensified violence in Zimbabwe that has led
presidential frontrunner Morgan Tsvangirai to withdraw from the presidential runoff
election scheduled for 27 June. The NEC said it was clear that the conditions for a
free and fair election did not exist. The Executive also discussed ways of ministering
to those displaced by recent "xenophobic" violence in South Africa and called on
political and community leaders to desist from using violent and inflammatory language.
SACC Apologises for Attacks on
Foreign Nationals
In a move mandated by the SACC Central Committee,
the General Secretary has written to other Christian Councils in the region to express
the SACC's shock and contrition with respect to a recent wave of attacks on foreign
nationals living in South Africa. The Council invites sisters and brothers in faith in
neighbouring countries to work together to find development paradigms that promote justice,
equality and human dignity.
Justice in Post-Apartheid South
Africa
Earlier this year, SACC President Prof. Tinyiko
Maluleke gave the keynote address at the Annual Conference of the Foundation
for Church-led Restitution in Cape Town. His remarks, "Toward a Theology of
Restitution," were much-commended, so we are pleased to make the full address
available here.
"Bread for the Poor, Bread for the Stranger"
say Churches
The SACC held its annual Central Committee meeting in
Johannesburg around the theme of "Give us this day our daily bread". The meeting
commemorated the Council's fortieth anniversary, but the celebrations were bittersweet as
delegates met in the midst of enormous human suffering occasioned by rapidly rising
prices for food and fuel, violent community protests that have targeted foreign nationals
from other parts of Africa, and the continuing crisis in Zimbabwe.
Colonialism Runs Riot!
As the South African Council of Churches celebrates its
fortieth anniversary, former Head of SACC Communications, Rev. Bernard Spong, assesses
the new colonialism of globalisation and consumerism and asks what theses phenomena
mean for the future role of the Council.
Churches Leaders Call for Peace
with Justice in Alex
Following a visit by a delegation of Gauteng
church leaders to conflict-torn Alexandra, the Council has condemned the violence
and has made a commitment to working with community leaders to address
the underlying social and economic factors. It has also warned against simply
attributing the conflict to "xenophobia" without recognising the complexity of the
forces at work in South Africa and the region.
Churches Applaud Aid to Distressed
Households
The General Secretary has welcomed Minister Zola
Skweyiya's announcement that the government will make more than R120
million available to relieve short-term economic hardships faced by many
families.
Apartheid Wall Divides Bedouin
Communities
A further report from Ecumenical Accompanier
Scott Smith on the challenges faced by Bedouin families in occupied
Palestine.
SACC Calls for Release of Zimbabwe
Election Results
The Council says that, in spite of "worrying
signs" of electoral irregularities, the people of Zimbabwe have spoken
in that nation's 29 March poll, and the SACC calls for the release of
long-delayed results to ensure that people do not lose faith in the
electoral process.
Chaos at Qalqiliya's North
Terminal
Ecumenical Accompanier Scott Smith submits
an eyewitness account of a morning at the north gate in the town of
Qalqiliya, a community completely surrounded by Israel's apartheid
wall.
Buys Family Thanks Ecumenical
Movement
The family of the late Rev. James Buys, who
died suddenly on 1 March 2008, expresses its thanks to the members of the
ecumenical family around the world for the love and support shown to them
following Rev. Buys' death.
SACSEC Begins Preparations for 2009
Elections
The South African Civil Society Election
Coalition (SACSEC), formerly known as SACSOC, has reconvened in preparation
for the 2009 national and provincial elections. The Coalition is a national
initiative of more than 40 non-governmental and faith-based organisations
committed to the conduct of free, fair and credible elections.
Bedouin Homesteads Near Zufin Face
Destruction
Bedouin families outside of Qalqiliya contend
with the destruction of their property by the Israeli Defense Force.
EAPPI Accompanier Scott Smith shares a brief sketch of one family's
struggle.
Roadblocks Inhibit Palestinians'
Free Movement
EAPPI Accompanier Scott Smith reports on the
intentional obstruction of transportation routes around Azzun and the
impact it has on the lives of Palestinians.
Council to Honour Chikane and
Other Ecumenical "Heroes"
As part of it fortieth anniversary celebrations,
the SACC will hold a service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving on 23
February in Kliptown. The service will give thanks to God for sparing the
life of former SACC General Secretary Dr. Frank Chikane, who was the
target of an assassination attempt in 1989. The Council will also recognise
the contributions of dozens of "unsung" heroes and heroines who played a
vital role in the struggle for jutice and democracy in South Africa.
Leaders Condemn Attack on
Church
At its first meeting of 2008, the Church
Leaders' Forum discussed a wide range of topics including
election-related violence in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Pakistan; the state of
South Africa in the wake of the Polokwane conference, and a variety of
economic concerns. The discussion was dominated, however, by the
alarming attack by police on hundreds of people living at the Central
Methodist Church, many of whom have been displaced from Zimbabwe. The
Church Leaders' Forum, which is convened by the SACC, brings together
Christian leaders to discuss issues of mutual concern.
Churches Call for Action to Prevent
HIV Transmission
The SACC has called on government to release
the long-overdue revised guidelines for the prevention of mother-to-child
transmission of HIV. The National Strategic Plan endorsed last year
provides for the upgrading of the current mono therapy protocol to the
more effective dual therapy recommended by the World Health Organisation.
The General Secretary expressed concern that South Africa is not doing
enough to prevent children from being born with HIV.
Fraudsters Attempt to Swindle
Churches
An unscrupulous individual has apparently been
attempting to defraud churches by posing as an SACC employee and using
the promise of donations to gain access to congregational banking
details. The General Secretary warns churches to be caution about
unexpected gifts or unreasonably advantageous offers.
| 
