WEDNESDAY, 4.30PM
The head of the Anglican church in SA, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, on Wednesday called on all church members who were involved in the perpetuation of apartheid to appear before the truth commission.
The call was made in a statement by Ndungane on the Anglican Church of the Province of Southern Africa’s submission to the Truth Commission’s human rights violations committee.
“CPSA has a wide membership, amongst whom would have been those involved in the perpetuation of the heresy of apartheid and, ipso facto, of the violation of human rights. We call on them to appear before the TRC,” said Ndungane. The CPSA also acknowledged it “disobeyed God” by sometimes complying with the laws of apartheid.
“There were occasions when, through the silence of its leadership or its parishes, or their actions in acquiescing with apartheid laws where they believed it to be in the interests of the church, deep wrong was done to those who bore the brunt of the onslaught of apartheid,” said Ndungane.
At a corporate level, the church was at times guilty of making statements without concomitant action that may have resulted in the alleviation of the invasion of human rights. “The CPSA thus wishes to place on record that, as a body corporate, it repents sincerely and absolutely for any possible violation that occurred by omission or commission.”
The CPSA recommitted itself to achieve moral reconstruction and healing, and the revitalisation of individuals within society. “Recognising that much of the poverty evident in South Africa is a result of the inhumane system of apartheid, it commits itself, as part of its ministry to redress the wrongs of the past, to a programme of action to eradicate poverty in all its forms,” said Ndungane.