Category: Provincial Notices

SOCIAL PROTECTION IN A TIME OF COVID: LESSONS FOR BASIC INCOME SUPPORT

Commissioned by the Black Sash

(Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, after attending a webinar on this subject, recommends this paper as informative.)

Executive Summary

The Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant (Covid-19 SRD) was introduced in South Africa in May 2020 to mitigate the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It provided for people between 18 and 59 years of age, who had no income nor access to any other form of social assistance.

This was an unprecedented moment in the history of social security in South Africa, initiated under enormous pressure in a remarkably short space of time. It drew people who had previously been excluded from the social grant programme, namely those aged 18 to 59 years, into the social protection network, creating a platform for Basic Income Support in the future.

And yet, the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant was not perfect. The R350 amount was not linked to an objective measure of poverty, and fell well below the food poverty line (R585). There were also many challenges of exclusions and inequitable access, particularly for women, foreign nationals, and people living in rural areas. This qualitative study, conducted in all nine provinces, has sought to understand how the Covid-19 SRD Grant was distributed and how people experienced its distribution. We hope these consolidated learnings inform the development and implementation of Basic Income Support in the near future.

Download the full paper below:

An Elective Assembly of the Diocese of Swaziland will be convened on August 4 & 5, 2021 to elect a successor to the late Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya.
 
Please pray for the following nominees who have been nominated for Bishop in the forthcoming Elective Assembly:
 

• The Revd Charles Mhlaba Kunene &
• The Very Revd Advent Nhlanhla Dlamini

 
Sincerely in Christ,
 
THE REVD DR MAKHOSI NZIMANDE
Provincial Executive Officer

The Electoral College of Bishops met virtually on 9 July 2021 to elect a Bishop for the vacant see of Natal.

Bishop Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, the Bishop of Mthatha, was elected as Bishop of Natal on the first ballot.

Please pray for Bishop Nkosinathi, his family and the Dioceses of Mthatha and Natal as they prepare for his translation and installation.

Sincerely in Christ,

THE REVD DR MAKHOSI NZIMANDE
Provincial Executive Officer

Applications are invited for this year’s educational grants for children of clergy from the Robert Selby Taylor Will Trust.

The deadline for this year’s applications is August 31, 2021.

Under the rules of the trust, grants are limited to the children of stipendiary clergy only. Applications, endorsed by the Bishop of the Diocese in which the cleric applying for a grant is licensed, should be submitted to Bishopscourt at the following email address: archreception@anglicanchurchsa.org.za

The grants do not cover the costs of clergy studies or pre-school and preparatory education. The Robert Selby Taylor Will Trust Fund should be regarded as “last resort” rather than first port of call for funding.

To download full details and an application form, click on the links below:

The Right Revd Brian Marajh, the Bishop of George, has announced the death of Bishop Derek Damant, who was Bishop of the Diocese from 1984 to 1999.

Bishop Damant was also formerly Dean of Pretoria.  He was ordained in 1958 and served as chaplain at St. Andrew’s School, Bloemfontein and principal of St. Stephen’s Diocesan High School in Mohale’s Hoek.

Please pray for Dr Marylynn Damant, his widow, and their family.

FROM THE BISHOP’S DESK:

Dear Brothers and Sisters.

We woke up this morning with the news that Bishop Derek passed away peacefully in the early hours of this morning.

We thank God for his life and witness. May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory. Please keep Marilynn and the family in your prayers.

Yours in the service of Christ,

+ Brian George

[Update for 12/8] The Tribunal has completed its hearings, and the links to hearing recordings have now been archived, hence no longer appear on this page.

[Update for 11/8] The Tribunal hearing will resume at 9 am on Wednesday at the following link:

[Update 10/8] The Tribunal hearing resumes at 08h45 today. The webcast of the hearing can be viewed here:

[Update 5/8] Tribunal proceedings resume today and continue tomorrow and next week. Proceedings today and tomorrow can be viewed on the following links:

[Update 29/7] The parties have agreed that the Tribunal will reconvene on Thursday 5^th August 2021 at 0930 and thereafter on 6^th, 10^th, and 11^th August as required.

[Update July 23] The hearing reconvened on 21 July as agreed but was further postponed owing to the indisposition of the Rev June Major. The Tribunal will convene again on 5 August 2021 or, failing that, 18 August 2021. The link will be published as usual for those who wish to follow the proceedings.

Tribunal of the Diocese of Cape Town, July 23, 2021

[June 28] The Tribunal opened today and has been adjourned until 21 July 2021 at 0930 because of the ill health of one of the participants.

All parties have been instructed to desist from derogatory communication or any attempt to influence tribunal members by any means,  during the adjournment period.

The reconvened hearing will continue to be available virtually.

Tribunal of the Diocese of Cape Town

A tribunal of the Diocese of Cape Town set up to hear charges against the Revd Melvin Booysen is scheduled to begin hearings on Monday June 28 at 9.30 am.

The tribunal arises out of allegations made by the Revd June Major.

The Canons mandate that the proceedings of tribunals take place in public. However, since under Covid-19 regulations there can be no physical access to the venue by the public, the proceedings can be followed on YouTube at the following address:

[This post was updated by the replacement of the link to the YouTube feed at 11:15 am on Monday June 28. Thanks to the Diocese of Cape Town for the new link.] [The tribunal has adjourned until July 21 on account of one of the lawyers involved testing positive for Covid-19]

Diocese of Cape Town

The President of the forthcoming Diocesan Tribunal in Cape Town, Bishop Peter Lee, has announced that the parties have agreed that the hearing will begin on Monday 28 June 2021.

In present circumstances there can be no public access to the hearing venue. The requirement of Canon 37:13 of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa that ‘the proceedings shall be open’ will be met virtually. Details to follow.

The prayers of the Church are asked for all involved.

At the Elective Assembly of the Diocese of Zululand, the Revd Dr Vikinduku Victor Mnculwane has been chosen as the new Bishop-elect of the Diocese.

Dr Mnculwane was elected on the first ballot in today’s session of the Assembly. Two candidates had been nominated.

Please pray for Dr Mnculwane, his family and the Diocese as they prepare for his Consecration and Installation.

Sincerely in Christ,

THE REVD DR MAKHOSI NZIMANDE
Provincial Executive Officer

Kindly be informed that the Elective Assembly of the Diocese of Natal has not elected a Bishop at its sitting in Pietermaritzburg. As a result, the election has been delegated to the Synod of Bishops.

Sincerely in Christ,

THE REVD DR MAKHOSI NZIMANDE
Provincial Executive Officer

The College of Transfiguration is advertising an academic vacancy for a FULL-TIME LECTURER.

Reporting to the Rector of the College, the successful candidate will be required to:

1. Demonstrate a specialist interest and ability to teach in the field of Ethics and the New
   Testament among other theological fields.
2. Demonstrate an ability to teach and be willing to adapt their teaching to enhance student
   engagement and success, including during times of disruption.
3. Teach and contribute across a range of disciplines beyond their area of speciality.
4. Engage with the life of the College in alignment with the College’s Vision and Mission.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 15th June 2021.

READ FULL DETAILS – including details of where to send applications – BELOW:

Kindly be informed that the Elective Assembly of the Diocese of Lesotho did not elect a Bishop at its sitting on Friday 23^rd April, 2021.

The Assembly is delegating their Election of a Bishop to the Synod of Bishops.

Sincerely in Christ,

REVD DR MAKHOSI NZIMANDE

Provincial Executive Officer

Kindly be informed that the Elective Assembly of the Diocese of Kimberley & Kuruman could not elect a Bishop at their Elective Assembly of 19 & 20 April, 2021.

The Assembly has delegated their Election of a Bishop to the Synod of Bishops.

Sincerely in Christ,

THE REVD DR MAKHOSI NZIMANDE
Provincial Executive Officer