Thursday 31 March 2016

Archbishop Thabo addresses Constitutional Court judgement in Wits graduation address

Graduation remarks at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The Archbishop was awarded an honorary degree at the ceremony.

Graduates and your families, distinguished guests, Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellors, Deans, faculty, sisters and brothers in Christ,

The honour you have bestowed on me is truly humbling.  For I feel as if I have Wits in my blood:  after school at Alexandra and then Orlando High, I studied here for three of my degrees and one of my diplomas; I lectured part-time here; and I also once served as Dean at Knockando residence in Parktown. So recognition from this institution in particular, my alma mater – and your kind words – make me feel as if the only proper thing for me to do now is to die!

Sunday 27 March 2016

Sermon for the Easter Vigil, St George's Cathedral, Cape Town

Luke 24: 1-9  
 
Alleluia, Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
 
Sisters and Brothers in Christ, as we hear again the glorious story of the Resurrection and its message of new beginnings, may each one of you experience the fullness of Christ’s gift of abundant life. May you know the joy, the hope and the peace that the Season of Easter brings.

Friday 18 March 2016

Archbishop Thabo urges transparency in South African government

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba has spoken out over the revelation by a South African government minister that friends of President Jacob Zuma offered him the post of Finance Minister.

The Archbishop's remarks come amid growing controversy over the influence of the Gupta family on the government. The president's opponents allege that members of the family are using their friendship with him to advance their and his family's business interests.

Friday 11 March 2016

Rebuilding South Africa, Recovering our Vision and Renewing our Society


Opening remarks by Archbishop Thabo Makgoba to launch a national conversation on the Socio-Economic Future of South Africa:

Friends, good afternoon.

On behalf of the steering committee which has driven this initiative -- Professor Binedell, Marius Oosthuizen, Charles Robertson and the Revd Moss Nthla; on behalf of my fellow patrons -- David Lewis, Russell Loubser, Roelf Meyer, Professor Ndebele and Bishop Siwa; and of the organisers of the conversations which we will initiate, thank you for being here.

I don't need to preach to you that South Africa is in a state of crisis (or epidemic distrust), perhaps one more serious than any we have faced since those dark days of the early 1990s when we risked being torn apart by violence. This too is a crisis that threatens to tear our social fabric apart and to send us into a downward spiral from which we will struggle to escape.