STATEMENT BY ARCHBISHOP THABO MAKGOBA ON SOUTH AFRICA'S CURRENT CRISIS

“The country is in crisis and our governing party seems to be in meltdown.

“It is correct that no one should be above the law, but to pass final judgement on a person based on what is in effect a board of preliminary investigation, which has not made a final determination of the facts, could lead to lawlessness in South Africa.

“The church is observing the season of Advent, which is a time of alertness as we wait to celebrate at Christmas the arrival of the Incarnate Son. Our focus as we prepare for Christmas should be to give voice to the “ordinary” people of the country.

“The vast majority of South Africans want to see our political leaders dealing with their problems such as loadshedding and joblessness urgently, and are probably getting impatient with seeing a governing party at war with itself.

“If the President loses the political support of his party before a final determination of his conduct is made, I call for the establishment of a government of national unity under a respected elder to stabilise the country until the next election. And during the next year we need to hold an economic Codesa to address the real crisis facing the country, which is the scandalous gap between those who benefit from intergenerational wealth and those who are locked out of the economy.”

Issued by Bishopscourt

INTERVIEW BY Sakina Kamwendo, SAfm, SABC

AnglicanMediaSA · SAfm Interview of Archbishop Thabo by Sakina Kamwendo