The decision to prosecute apartheid-era minister law and order Adriaan Vlok is not a departure from reconciliation, the South African Council of Churches said on Wednesday.
”[The decision] seeks to strengthen it [reconciliation] by bringing out the truth,” said the SACC’s newly elected president, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke.
Maluleke was briefing the media on the final day of the SACC’s triennial national conference.
He was elected president, while the new vice-presidents are Bishop Purity Malinga and Puleng Lenka-Bule.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced this week that Vlok and former police chief Johann van der Merwe will be charged with attempted murder next month.
The charges related to an alleged plot to kill Frank Chikane, who is now Director General in the Presidency
Chikane was secretary general of the SACC when his underwear was lined with a poison that attacked his nervous system in 1989.
SACC secretary general Eddie Makue said the if the NPA found that Vlok had not told the whole truth on the incident, ”the law should take its course”.
”It is important that the truth be known so that forgiveness can take place,” Makue said.
The conference also discussed economic and ecological issues.
”Resolutions were taken on the mining industry and the effect it has on our environment,” said Makue.
The conference suggested that more attention be paid to what economic and ecological conditions encourage crime, especially against women and children.
The new council leaders said the crime problem in the country is a continuing issue that still needs further discussion.
Maluleke praised the SACC’s role in the past 40 years of its existence and said it has done a lot to improve the lives of South Africans.
”The conference consolidated that the churches have to continue with their work to make people’s lives better.”
The council would like to re-orientate and re-direct its programmes to be more responsive to issues affecting citizens, Maluleke said.
The churches also expressed their concern over the economic situation in Zimbabwe. — Sapa