It’s election time again. I had a number of requests to write something or have discussions on the different ways that Christians tend to vote in SA, so here are my observations… Initially let me say that many South African Christians are influenced by the so-called “Christian Voters Guide” which was put out by our…
The EFF has released a document answering common questions regarding land expropriation without compensation. What are Christians to make of their policies and ideas? This article is a Biblical reflection on their proposal. I am not writing to offer my own solution to the land issue, but rather to compare the EFF’s policy on the…
It’s been almost 4 weeks since the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa has made a significant change in its position regarding homosexuality, though it seems this was only a rubber stamping of a popular view in the denomination Not Learning From History The Dutch Reformed Church had a hard time in South Africa. As…
Recently South Africa experienced a spate of student protests that has been dubbed by many as historic. During this time I had a number of requests by students for my thoughts on the issue. I remember getting home on the first Sunday after the end of the protests and reading a blog that said something…
1. Under the Constitution, citizens have the right to establish independent schools, including religious schools, “at their own expense”. But for public schools, the National Policy on Religion dictates that the state must not pay for the promotion of any particular faith. “The state cannot allow unfair access to the use (of) its resources to…
1. The Government of South Africa does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking[i] 2. In May 2013, parliament passed the Prevention and Combatting of Trafficking in Persons Act (PACOTIP), which was signed by President Zuma in July 2013[ii] Mthunzi Mhaga, spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services,…
The views expressed in this article should not be construed as endorsing any particular political party. My standing political view has been that we need more Christian MP’s. How do Christians navigate the tricky waters of voting in South Africa? I’m not writing to tell you who to vote for, nor to deal with issue…
Last week we asked the question, “what strategy will work for bringing about reconciling peaceful relationship in the diverse nation that is South Africa?”. We then looked at secularism and found it somewhat wanting for the task. Today I would like to suggest strategy for dealing with the divisiveness of religion that will work. That…
In South Africa we celebrate diversity, though at times it raises problems that besmirch our ‘rainbow nation’. In fact, there are those that see no room for this diversity, normally relegated to the far right of our political sphere. However, by and large, diversity is accepted; the preamble to our constitution says, “We, the people…
Freedom is a complex thing; one freedom invariably affects another freedom. For example if you want the freedom of a longer life, you may have to limit the freedom of being able to eat whatever you want. This can also be seen in the history of South Africa- Liberties were enjoyed by a particular group…
