/ 21 June 2006

SACC, Jesse Jackson to join forces on development

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) and United States civil rights leader Jesse Jackson on Wednesday resolved to develop a strategic partnership.

Speaking at a press conference at the SACC’s head office, Jackson and SACC general secretary Eddie Makue said the partnership will see the two collaborating on a variety of development projects, including poverty alleviation in various parts of the country.

No monetary value was placed on the partnership.

”This is a beacon of hope to us,” Makue said.

”We have achieved freedom, but not equality,” Jackson added.

The next phase, now that South Africa has achieved its political freedom, is developing economic equality, he said.

A starting point for collaboration between Jackson’s RainbowPush (People United to Serve Humanity) Coalition will be the conceptualisation of ”Project Soweto” where the coalition will adopt a neighbourhood in Soweto and provide it material support in the form of clothing, medical supplies, food and other necessities.

Jackson said the SACC will serve as the South African partner of the project.

The RainbowPush Coalition is a combination of grassroots and political organisations that merged in 1997 and seeks to protect, defend and gain civil rights as well as to even the economic and educational playing fields in all aspects of American life, and to bring peace to the world.

Jackson (65), the coalition’s founder and president, is one of the US’s foremost civil rights, religious and political figures.

Over the past 40 years he has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice, his biography on the RainbowPush website adds.

Jackson was in South Africa to address a leadership conference. — Sapa