The three-person panel appointed by the Archbishop of Cape Town to review the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA)’s handling of reports of abuse committed by John Smyth in South Africa has called for input from any member of the public who has information relevant to its inquiries, as defined by the panel’s terms of reference set out below.
Announcing the terms of reference of its review today, the panel noted that among its tasks were “to establish if any reports or complaints are recorded as received by ACSA regarding membership by Mr John Smyth of ACSA and his activities in South Africa, and if so, what was done by ACSA in response to any such reports or complaints.”
The panel further noted that its tasks included “whether, if any such reports or complaints were made to ACSA, ACSA failed in any duty to convey such reports or complaints to any appropriate authority.”
Information received by ACSA , supplemented by the report into Smyth’s activities commissioned by the Church of England, indicates that during his time in South Africa, Smyth attended St Paul’s Church, Durban, St Martin in the Fields Church, Durban, St Martin’s Church, Bergvliet, Cape Town, and two independent churches, His People Church, Glenwood, Durban, and Church on Main, Cape Town.
Information relevant to the terms of reference should be emailed by Friday December 20th the Church’s Provincial Executive Officer, at: peo@anglicanchurchsa.org.za
Information received will be treated in confidence.
The panel comprises: Judge Ian Farlam, Dr Mamphela Ramphele and Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett SC KC.
The full text of the terms of reference follows:
TERMS OF REFERENCE
- To consider the findings and implications of the Makin Report (dated 18 October 2024) regarding the Church of England notifying the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) in 2013, or at any other time, of:
- allegations of abuse by Mr John Smyth committed in the United Kingdom or Zimbabwe
- that Mr Smyth had become resident in South Africa.
- To establish if any reports or complaints are recorded as received by ACSA regarding membership by Mr John Smyth of ACSA and his activities in South Africa, and if so, what was done by ACSA in response to any such reports or complaints.
- To establish whether, if any such reports or complaints were made to ACSA, ACSA failed in any duty to convey such reports or complaints to any appropriate authority.
- To report on measures adopted by ACSA relating to Safe and Inclusive Church, and to make any recommendations arising from 1-3.
