wfn.org | ACNS3554 Archbishop of Cape Town to convene civil society

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3554     |     SOUTHERN AFRICA	|     19 AUGUST 2003 

Archbishop of Cape Town to convene civil society conference on
reparations

[ACNS source: Church of the Province of Southern Africa] Archbishop
Njongonkulu Ndungane is to convene a two-day conference on reparations
for various categories of apartheid survivors, who he believes are the
responsibility of every South African.

Scheduled to be held at Randburg Inn on August 28 and 29, the conference
has been planned by representatives of a number of major organisations,
including the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Jubilee
2000, Khulumani and the South African Council of Churches.

There will be input by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC),
government and the business sector, followed by perspectives from a
broad spectrum of organisations.

Archbishop Ndungane said, "We are determined that this will not be
another chat shop, we must emerge with a set of agreed resolutions in
order to break the logjam that is causing so much pain and
disillusionment among those who deserve our consideration. Nobody who
fought for our liberation expected to be paid but there are instances
where people were so brutalised that they cannot be simply swept under
the carpet of our fledgling democracy or left to cope in our new
society.

"Nor should these damaged people have to resort to the courts for the
compassion that flows from reparations. Every sector of our society has
a moral obligation to ease their pain, particularly as many of the
victims forfeited their right to legal process when they bared their
souls to the TRC. Government, in particular, has a responsibility in
this regard but civil society cannot stand on the sidelines on this
important matter.

"Our transformation was built on the premise of restorative justice of
which reparations and reconstruction are key elements."

The archbishop intends mooting a national reparation fund to which
business, civil society and individuals can contribute. "I know times
are tough, but...just think what we could achieve if every business
responded with a small percentage of profit. Our God is a generous God.
How wonderful it would be if we could mirror that generosity."

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