Media Statement
7 June 2020
Issued by the office of the SACC General Secretary, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana.
Silent Protest by Faith Leaders in light of brutality by law enforcement officers
The South African Council of Churches has been shocked to learn of the
final declaration of the SANDF on the death of Collins Khosa with
absolving the Defence Force members involved in his death. āThis is
unreal!ā, exclaimed Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, SACC General Secretary, āIt
feels like weāve been here before, yes, in apartheid days; or in George
Floydās Minneapolis! What a week to announce this āNo One to Blameā
verdict!ā; said Mpumlwana, invoking the title of Advocate George Bizosā
book on his quest for justice for victims of apartheid police brutality.
Faith leaders, alarmed by these developments, are gripped in lament and
despair over the deaths of innocent people at the hands of law
enforcement officers. Since the enforcement of the lockdown in South
Africa, at least 12 people are believed to have died at the hands of
police and military officers deployed by the State to enforce lockdown
regulations. Whilst everybody recognises that investigations are still
ongoing, the reality of the deaths of these citizens, is of serious
concern, and a blot on the tapestry of our constitutional democracy.
Religious leaders will, from 12 noon to 13:00 on Sunday June 7, stage
silent prayers of protest at St Albans Anglican Cathedral where SACC
General Secretary and other leaders will be. At the same time other
protest prayers will be conducted, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba will be with
faith leaders at the Cape Town St Georgeās Anglican Cathedral, also
from 11:00 to 12:00.
As we mourn the deaths of the #Lockdown12, we intend to remember and make known their names:
- #CollinsKhosa – Male, 40 died in Alexandra, Johannesburg on 10 April 2020 (Good Friday)
- #PetrusMiggels – Male, 55 died in Ravensmead, Cape Town on 27 March 2020
- #SibusisoAmos – Male, 40 died in Vosloorus, Ekhurhuleni on 29 March 2020
- #AdaneEmmanuel – Male died in Isipingo, Durban on 2 April 2020
- #RobynMontsumi – Female, 39 died in Mowbray police station, 12 April 2020
- #Unnamed7
We also want to stand in solidarity with our siblings in the United States in light of the brutal murders of:
- #GeorgeFloyd – Male 46, murdered on 25 May 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- #AhmaudArbery – Male 25, murdered on 23 February 2020 in Glynn County, Georgia
- #BreonnaTaylor – Female 26, murdered on 13 March 2020 in Louisville, Kentucky
- #AtatianaJefferson – Female 26, murdered on 12 October 2019 in Fortworth, Texas
- #UnnamedOthers
Details for the silent vigil are as follows:
Date:Sunday 7 June 2020
Time:12:00 until 13:00
Venue:St Albanās Anglican Cathedral on Frances Baard Street, Pretoria.
Our intention is that this silent vigil will be a clear expression of
our disdain for the current brutality exhibited by our police and
defence forces and to call for greater accountability and justice for
these families. We are also standing in the gap for ordinary citizens
who are equally experiencing the grief and mourning that this current
moment has brought upon us.
Order of events:
- 12
of our leaders will stand in the gap for the #Lockdown12 plus 1 leader
who will stand in the gap for our fallen siblings in the USA.
- For
the first 51 minutes (i.e. until 12:51), we will be standing in silence
honouring the names of the fallen slain as a demonstration of support
for the #BlackLivesMatter movement both locally and globally.
- For
the remaining 9 minutes, from 12:51 until 13:00, we will kneel in
silence whilst the bell at St Albanās Anglican cathedral will ring until
the top of the hour. This will be done in honour of George Floyd and
our Black and Brown siblings in the USA who have died unjust deaths.
- Thereafter we will be able to engage any members of the media who are present.
For information on these events only, contact:
Lovelyn Nwadeyi (JHB)
C: +27 83 200 7157
E: lovelyn@lovelynnwadeyi.com
Nomfundo Walaza (CPT)
C: 082 567 1456
E: nomfundow@mweb.co.za