23 July 2021
Press Statement
From the desk of the General Secretary, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) is dismayed and perplexed by reports that Government intends to destroy recovered loot, including food products, in the face of massive poverty and want. The SACC appeals for a change of heart over this, and that recovered goods should be placed in the trust of reliable humanitarian non-profit organisations to distribute these goods recovered in good working order and which remain intact, in accordance with appropriate criteria of the needs across the country.

In this regard, the SACC has written to the government with an urgent appeal to consider a humanitarian distribution process of recovered goods.

“We consider it unthinkable, and boarders on obscenity, that even food can be consigned to destruction when we all know the extent of poverty and want in South Africa- the country with the highest levels of inequality in the world,” said Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, General Secretary of the SACC. “We hope that, if the decision to destroy these goods has indeed been made, that it can and will be reversed,” he concluded.

-ENDS-

Media enquiries:
Khuthalani Khumalo
SACC Communications Consultant
South African Council of Churches
Tel: 084 074 1285 | Email: khuthalani@khuthalani.net