Issued by: Office of the President
Honourable Mr President
Thank you Mr President for confirming a meeting of 26th September with yourself and a delegation from the SACC.
As requested, we are sending this memorandum which captures some of our ideas and activities.
1. Background
The present high rate of crime is causing concern in all spheres of life throughout South Africa. None can escape it. The statistics are horrendous and leave a numbing sense of unreality. The daily experience of many South Africans through hijacks, housebreaking, violent attacks a nd armed robberies is causing trauma, loss of life and possessions and a dreadful fearfulness. It leaves nothing untouched including the social fabric, the economy and the political stability of this new fragile democracy. It shatters many people's hopes in the future of this land that has experienced the miracle of change and the emergence of a rainbow nation.
It is my pleasure to inform you of some of the ecumenical activities in which the SACC is attempting to resolve contemporary challenges:
1.1 Education:
Our new democracy inherited an educational system plagued with instability. A system that lacked a culture of learning and teaching.
Church schools significatly contribute towards t he provision of relevant education and the nurturing of humane values. Churches are still committed to assist in addressing the educational needs of all South Africans.
On request of the Ministry of Education the SACC will be hosting an educational conference in December. We are doing our best to make this conference a great success. It is our hope that this conference will contribute towards a culture of learning and teaching.
The SACC's Education for Democracy Programme is geared towards enabling an environment of responsible citizenship. Our Human Rights Programme strives to assist in the creation of a human rights culture, where rights and responsibilities are counter-balanced.
We are deeply disturbed when Church schools, with a proud history of quality education are clustered with fly by nights and private schools. The (retrospective) subsidy cuts in education aggravates the education crisis and creates crises for Church schools.
We are of the opinion that compulsory education will only be effective when adequate resources are available to education institutions. Children who are occupied in schools and appropriately taught will be less prone to criminal activities.
1.2 Training
The backlog in education and legacies of Verwoerdian education policies resulted in many school-leavers and adults being unemployed and under-employed.
Formal education cannot fulfil the needs of most South Africans. Training in life-skills is imperative. Our country's youth have special training needs.
The SACC pioneered a project on the East Rand where youth are being trained and re-trained in conflict resolution, mediation and trauma counselling skills.
Some of our people resort to corruption and criminality because they lack the training to function in the informal employment sector. While we do not condone this action, it is a reality we face.
We urge government to grant urgent attention to training in life-skills. We are preparedto consult with our member Churches to avail premises and expertise for this training.
1.3 Peace and Reconciliation:
Throughout our history of struggle and especially during the last decade the SACC intervened, mediated and expressed a prophetic voice against violence, we called for peace, co-existence, mutual respect and tolerance. This important mission is still on our agenda.
Security legislation can, on its own, not change people's attitudes and values. The Church is favourably placed to assist on the moral reconstruction of our society. We support the need for a "new paradigm" as formulated in the National Crime Prevention Strategy.
Vigilantism, and revenge bedevils peace initiatives. While we understand the behaviour of groups to provide security for communities, we cannot condone such behaviour.
Corruption in Safety and Security services cannot be tolerated any longer. Communities are calling for visible and drastic action from government.
We believe that government alone will not address the society's security needs. We accordingly offer our services to bring the senseless violence and escalating criminal activities to an end.
1.4 Killing of Witches:
In the Northern Province our country experience the brutal killing of alleged witches. Intervention has already started.
Clergy persons, academics and the Safety and Security Department (of government) are combining their efforts. An informative and shocking publication has been produced. Efforts are afoot to bring the alleged perpetrators and victims together. Such efforts are favourably received. The office of the SACC in Pietersburg is actively participating in programmes to stop the killing of alleged witches.
1.5 Kwa-Zulu natal:
We thank God and all other peacemakers for the decline in violence and progress peace initiatives in Kwa-Zulu/Natal. It is evident that we can bring peace only if we do it together, as politicians and civil society.
The shuttle diplomacy of Church leaders contributed towards the creation of an environment for dialogue rather than war. Churches remain seized of this situation and are investing in the successes of a peaceful, free and fair Local Government Elections.
The two examples above are but some of the very creative incidents that bear testimony to the important functions of the churches in the area of peace and reconciliation.
1.6 Bail and the criminal justice system
We are experiencing an outcry against the granting of bail to the alleged perpetrators of violent crimes such as rape, murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances. Many victims perceive the criminal justice system as benefiting the perpetrators. This results in increased calls for visible justice to the benefit of the victims.
2. SACC activities to curb crime and violence
2.1 We are launching a formal Church campaign to combat crime and violence. We hope to utilise structures and members of the Church in this campaign. We are urging members of our congregations to participate in local efforts to combat crime and violence.
2.2 Media to support this campaign:
- Electronic media-interviews of the SACC President - Print Media : we are producing stickers, posters and flyers - Liturgies, sermon outlines and bible study material (for use in Churches).
2.3 We are arranging a conference with the business community to develop joint approaches to these issues.
2.4 Continued cooperation with security services and government.
3. In conclusion:
Mr President, you are a person of unimaginable significance to our country and many other nations of the world.
Be assured of our continued support for the good you and your government are doing.
"Life has become cheap in South Africa." You have uttered these painful words. The sanctity of life is no longer respected, even by some of us who are in the Church of Christ. The values of morality are rapidly being eroded. The widows and the orphans, women and children, the vulnerable are subjected to untold suffering and pain. Noble norms are dissipating while a vast majority of our nation are wallowing in despair.
Thank God, that evil cannot triumph over good. It is however so, that ordinary people have been given authority to overcome evil and build that which is good.
As Churches we commit ourselves to continue striving for those things that affirms the God-given humanity and dignity of all people.
We accordingly call on our democratically elected government - elected by us, the citizens - to take more visible action against the injustices, crime and violence that plagues our society.
We trust that drastic measures will be implemented almost immediately. We know that justice is like a two-edged sword. We urge you to use the sword responsibly and to the benefit of the weak and vulnerable.
We know that no easy answers can be found. We know that the situation is complex. It is for these reasons that we offer ourselves to be part of the solution. This is done with the understanding that the State can do more than it presently does.
We pray that you and all those committed to justice and peace will be endowed with wisdom and courage to make our beloved South Africa a proud and prosperous nation our God and saviour intends us to be.
Sincerely.
(signed)
Brigalia Hlophe Bam (Ms)
26 September 1996