The Anglican Church is deeply disturbed and challenged by the violence and brutality being inflicted on foreign nationals living in our country. While we believe that our immigration laws should be enforced, they should be implemented by the proper authorities and not vigilantes, and we strongly oppose threats and animosity directed at migrants.
We call on those who instigate and spread animosity against our fellow brothers and sisters to stop it. Among the migrants there are people who due to cicumstances in their home countries have been forced to flee and seek refuge elsewhere, and in this instance they have found homes here in South Africa.
This is like history repeating itself. After the June 16th uprising 50 years ago, when South Africa was in political turmoil, our children fled our country—but they were not attacked, in fact they sought and were granted refuge and hospitality in other countries.
The church does not condone the presence of undocumented foreign nationals in our country. Immigrants have to observe and respect laws of other countries, and be bound by them. All immigrants should be properly processed and documented and our porous boundaries should be tightened so that foreign nationals coming into our country cannot just walk in and out at will.
We call upon our Government to root out corruption in the Department of Home Affairs and related departments and bring to book all who have facilitated corrupt and illegal ways of issuing passports or citizenship to the migrants who do not qualify.
And I call upon all our churches and their respective leaders to reach out to our communities, using all the communication platforms that we have, to reject and rebuke arrogance, hostility and violence against foreign nationals.
Let us preach, teach, and point God’s people to the unconditional, inclusive and compassionate love of Christ.
And now we pray:
God bless Africa
Guard our children
Guide our leaders
And give us peace
For Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen
The Right Revd Stephen Diseko
Dean Of the Province & Provincial Vicar-General