wfn.org | SA Archbishop assures Winnie Mandela of prayers

[Theo and Ruth Coggin <coggin@sn.apc.org>]

Issued on behalf of the Church of the Province
of Southern Africa (Anglican) by Quo Vadis Communications
Ruth Coggin +2711-648-5461

Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela has been assured of the pastoral support
of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa and of the prayers of the
Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the Most Revd Njongonkulu Ndungane.

In a letter hand-delivered to her on Wednesday 3 December at the
hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Johannesburg,
South Africa, Archbishop Ndungane reminded Mrs Madikizela-Mandela that
when she testified before the Commission regarding events during the
difficult years of the fight against apartheid, she should “be assured
that what you will say is a matter of conscience, between you and God”.

In his letter, Archbishop Ndungane noted that Mrs Madikizela-Mandela was
experiencing a time of stress and challenge in her life at present.  He
said that the pastoral care of the Church for people never stopped,
irrespective of situations in which they found themselves or of
accusations made about their behaviour.

His letter continued: “In the years of the struggle to end apartheid,
you provided a beacon of hope for countless numbers of people. The
stands you took, many of which resulted in your being persecuted by the
then government, were respected at the time by the vast majority of
those who desired an end to our oppressive existence. No-one can take
this away, nor can they deny the influential role you played in
leveraging change.

“As you take the witness stand at the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission hearings, to testify about events during those difficult
years, be assured that what you will say is a matter of conscience,
between you and God.”

Issued on behalf of the Church of the Province
of Southern Africa (Anglican) by Quo Vadis Communications
Ruth Coggin +2711-648-5461