Statement on 25 February 2023 from the desk of the South African Council of Churches (SACC) General Secretary,  Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana:

With only eight weeks of 2023 under our belts, our lived experience of this year thus far warrants a moment of contemplation, to remember, reinforce, and re-commit ourselves to the values that should inform how we relate to the many issues that we face at this time.

Remember

We started off the year on a sombre and heartbreaking note, shaken by the tragedy of the Boksburg tanker explosion, where it felt like with each week, the death toll of victims of the explosion continued to rise. The final number released by the Gauteng Premier at the end of January was 41, and that is 41 lives too many, lost. We have learnt that the South African Police Service (SAPS) docket with the outcome of investigations into the explosion has been handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority for further processing. It is our expectation that the next steps will serve the interests of justice and the lives that were lost will rest in the knowledge that their memory remains alive.

This month, we also remember the pain of a year since the Russo-Ukrainian War erupted, where tens of thousands have lost their lives, and millions displaced. The conflict in this region, as with conflict in other regions, still impacts the world to this day.

We hear the position of neutrality espoused by our government in regards to this war in the interests of a peaceful solution; but we hear of no actual efforts to promote such peace. While we may understand the BRICS relationship between South Africa and Russia; we cannot understand why the joint military exercises should be timed to coincide with the anniversary of that brutal war that has occasioned a regional humanitarian crisis. The timing of these exercises flies in the face of basic compassion.

To neutrally call for peacemaking and proceed with war anniversary military manoeuvres is exactly the despicable position of the United States of America (USA) and Europe that publicly calls for a two-state peace negotiation in Israel – Palestine and at the same time give Israel the diplomatic, military and political support to flout international law in the illegal settlements and annexation of occupied Palestinian Territories; gobbling up not only the precious land but also the prospect of peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians — a wonderful neutrality for the aggressor.

In the last few days we have seen the impunity with which Israel can kill and injure unarmed civilians in Nablus, as they’ve done with the non-aggressive 72 year-old market trader Adnan Saabe Baara, whose body was reportedly riddled with ten bullets.

The human rights principles of our foreign policy must be evident in our actions. The SACC has supported the efforts of the Vatican to promote peace; and we call on our government to use its BRICS relationship to promote peace, and also rally others to support the prospect of peace that can be brokered by Pope Francis while we still have him.

Hundreds of young people are dying on both sides; communities and livelihoods are destroyed; the economies of countries far removed from the point of conflict are suffering. But how many more Russians and Ukrainians must die before we act for peace?

This week we saw a competition of machismo, each man vowing to fight to the finish! What might the end look like? This war will have no winner but devastated societies and a world changed into jungle culture. For God’s sake, somebody bring out reason from the old fashioned arsenal of critical consciousness!

Reinforce

The pains of our time seem to have no end in sight. The past couple of weeks have  seen a devastating natural tragedy engulf the border between Turkiyë and Syria in an earthquake that has been brutal in its effects. Since 6 February, there has been a global effort to send relief aid to this part of the world.  Thousands remain without homes; children have been orphaned and many families have been torn apart in the initial earthquake and subsequent tremors in recent days.  The devastation the region is facing is unquantifiable, with over 45 000 people who have perished to date.  As a country, despite the challenges we face here at home, we must reinforce our efforts at supporting the relief initiative with financial and material support.

The role played by South Africa’s Gift of the Givers must make every South African proud. There are other organisations that are involved in this tragic emergency, such as Worldvision, HOPE Worldwide, Caritas and the International Blue Crescent.

We appeal to South Africans to make contributions  to these organisations, so that through such reliable and experienced partners, to reinforce the effectiveness of the relief efforts.

And in our own backyard at Komani, KwaZulu Natal and Limpopo, communities are devastated by floods and the wrath of violent waters. We cry out to the Lord of the creation; knowing that it is our mismanagement of the created order that results in unpredictable weather patterns, yet because God is God, we must appeal for respite. Again we appeal to all, especially churches to give all they can to relieve these situations.

Re-commit

Apostle Paul urges us in Romans 12:2 saying, “Be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

In this regard we must as a nation recommit to values that are predictably humane for all to see; and in line with the prescripts of our celebrated constitution. But we cannot legislate basic decency; we must socialise for it – towards a nationhood free of the scourge of corruption, avarice and underhanded politics that debilitate our institutions and destroy our future.

• Bron: https://sacc.org.za/ media statement 25 February 2023
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