Archbishop Thabo Makgoba used Easter Sunday mass as a platform to provide all South Africans with one message that God has given the country “a second chance” – an opportunity to slow down and reflect on the kind of country we want our children and grandchildren to grow up in.
“Getting a second chance in life is one thing; using it to make a better life, that’s the trick. To use words of wisdom my father was fond of quoting: “Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor.” We cannot start over, but we can begin now to write a better ending.
“The past administration trampled on our institutions and values, to the point where we now live in a South Africa that has the same inequality of opportunity, inequality of health care, inequality of social services, inequality of education and inequality of service delivery that our grandparents suffered.”
Makgoba says South Africans must never allow its government and leaders to bring them down.
“So my wish for this Easter is that President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC should see this time as a moment in history to embrace the principles and objectives of the New Struggle – a struggle to which we all should commit: a struggle for equality, a struggle about values and institutions rather than personalities, a struggle to build strong systems which cannot be undermined by one party or person’s whim.”
Makgoba also dedicated a large portion of his sermon to allegations of child abuse within the Anglican Church in the last two decades.
He said the willingness of some to speak out should be welcomed and must be used to address the issue.
The archbishop said its paramount that the needs of survivors are taken care of, their dignity is restored and to bring about holistic and sustainable healing.
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