Archbishop Thabo joins religious leaders to support protesting students

Archbishop Thabo issued the following statement to the Church this morning. It was also released to the media:

"I will join about 40 leaders of the National Religious Association for Social Development on a visit to Wits University, my alma mater, this morning. We are interrupting meetings in Gauteng to do so.



"I appeal to Bishops and parishioners in all our dioceses to support students and staff at tertiary institutions, and to pray for an amicable resolution to the crisis. Apart from holding prayer vigils, I appeal to our churches to give practical help to students in distress.

"I also call on everyone involved in the protests to avoid the use of force, and on the police to take action which is strictly proportionate to any threats they may face.

"Government leaders should refuse pay rises as a symbolic expression of their concern. And they have bailed out parastatals in trouble; could they not now bail out our students and institutions, at least for a year, while a lasing solution is sought?

"These are our children, as parents we need to act. Nyaki was arrested in Cape Town yesterday. He was released from the central police cells last night, and was scheduled to appear in court this morning. Thank you for your prayers."

Archbishop Thabo, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, and about 40 other religious leaders visited Wits University in Johannesburg to support students in their #FeesMustFall campaign. They were pictured in a live television news broadcast. Picture credit: ENCA, Johannesburg