2016-06-29 15:06:00

South African Church leaders criticise politicians for fuelling violence


Catholic Church leaders in South Africa have called for an end to pre-election violence and criticised politicians for fuelling it.

In a 27th June statement by Bishop Abel Gabuza of Kimberley, who chairs the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference justice and peace commission, the Church leaders said they are disappointed that politicians have not been “visible and loud enough in their condemnation of the recent factional violence and political assassinations.”

At least three people have been killed in recent violence in the Tshwane area around South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, triggered by the ruling party’s choice of a mayoral candidate for municipal elections, scheduled for the 3rd August.

After criticizing politicians who are mobilising especially unemployed youth to engage in the violence, Bishop Gabuza, on behalf of the conference urged young South Africans “not to allow themselves to be used by politicians who show signs that their primary interest is greed for power and government tenders.”

The Bishop of Kimberley Diocese lamented that South Africa’s political leaders have not “been vigorous enough in disciplining their candidates and members who are involved in disrupting campaign rallies of other parties and in creating no-go zones.”

“At the root of many social ills in our country, including the current upsurge of pre-election violence, one finds greed and patronage politics,” he said.

“This political culture”, he concluded “must be stopped before it destroys the country and sends it “into a downward spiral from which it will struggle to recover.” 

 

Below is the full statment:

SACBC Justice and Peace Commission slams pre-election violence

SACBC Justice and Peace Commission has urged an end to pre-election violence and criticized politicians for fuelling it.

“We are disappointed that our political leaders have not been visible and loud enough in their condemnation of the recent factional violence and political

assassinations,” Bishop Abel Gabuza of Kimberley, who chairs the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference justice and peace commission, said in a June 27 statement.

At least three people have been killed in the Tshwane area around South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, in late-June riots triggered by the ruling party’s choice

of a mayoral candidate for municipal elections, scheduled for Aug. 3. Shops have been looted and cars and buses set alight in violent protests over economic hardship.

Politicians “are mobilizing the young people in our communities, especially the unemployed youth, to engage in pre-election violence,” Bishop Gabuza said. He urged young South Africans “not to allow themselves to be used by politicians who show signs that their primary interest is greed for power and

government tenders.”

“The peace that we currently enjoy in our country should not be taken for granted. To maintain it, it requires the responsibility of all citizens and political

maturity of our leaders, especially during the election period. The current levels of political violence do not reflect this sense of responsibility.” He warned.

The South African Human Rights Commission warned that politically motivated murders and other acts of intimidation ahead of the polls are

endangering citizens’ constitutional rights.

The commission’s mid-June statement came after arrests were made for the murders of two African National Congress members in KwaZulu-Natal

province; the murders are said to be politically motivated.

South Africa’s political leaders have not “been vigorous enough in disciplining their candidates and members who are involved in disrupting campaign rallies of other parties and in creating no-go zones,” Bishop Gabuza said.

“At the root of many social ills in our country, including the current upsurge of pre-election violence, one finds greed and patronage politics,” he said.

This political culture must be stopped before it destroys the country and sends it “into a downward spiral from which it will struggle to recover,” he said.

He has also appealed to all eligible South Africans to cast their vote on 3rd August and elect leaders who have the courage to speak out against greed and patronage politics.

Justice and Peace Commission, in partnership with Diakonia Council of Churches, has organized a prayer service for peaceful election that will be held

in Durban on 6th July.

For further information or interviews please contact:

Bishop Abel Gabuza

Chairperson of the Justice and Peace Commission for the Southern African

Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Tel. 053 831 1861 or 053 831 1862.

Email: dagabuza@gmail.com








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