Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka, President of the South African Council of Churches, sat across from President Cyril Ramaphosa in a meeting that brought together some of the country’s most prominent voices on faith, governance, and social cohesion. The gathering represented a rare moment of direct dialogue between religious leadership and the highest levels of government on issues that touch the daily lives of South Africans.
The delegation that met with the President included more than the Archbishop. Rev. Dr Thabo Makgoba, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, led the WCC contingent. Alongside Sipuka came Ms Lulama Ntuta, First Vice President of the South African Council of Churches, and Rev. Dr Nioma Venter, Second Vice President. The President’s team was equally substantial: Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Ms Mmamoloko Kubayi, Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ms Anna Thandi Moraka, and staff from the President’s Office all participated in the conversation.
The meeting touched on issues that have fractured South African society in recent months and years. Xenophobia and the situation of migrants without proper documentation emerged as a central concern. The President and Minister Kubayi presented the government’s position clearly: South Africa remains a welcoming nation, but the state must address the reality of people living within its borders without necessary legal status. Both emphasized that the government is working to ensure safe and dignified return of migrants to their home countries. The President made a broader point about regional responsibility, urging African leaders to be mutually accountable in how they govern, so fewer people feel compelled to leave their nations in search of opportunity or safety.
Corruption and accountability formed another thread of discussion. The government acknowledged the seriousness with which it treats these matters, noting that recommendations from previous and current commissions are being implemented. The Phala Phala issue, which has drawn significant public scrutiny, remains before the courts. The government expressed confidence in the judicial process.
Makgoba also raised South Africa’s stance on the Palestine-Israel conflict, describing the government’s position as both courageous and costly, yet necessary in pursuit of justice and peace. The President explained that while this approach brought unexpected criticism of the South African government, the nation chose to follow legal and formal channels, grounding its response in justice principles. He detailed how South Africa contributes to peacemaking through its roles in the United Nations, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), BRICS, and other international bodies.
The National Dialogue, a process the President established at the request of many South Africans, featured prominently in the conversation. The government committed to allowing this initiative to continue its work without interference, recognizing its potential to foster social cohesion and unity.
After the meeting, Makgoba reflected on what had transpired. “The meeting with the President of South Africa and his team was engaging, informative, instructive, and transparent,” he said. “We heard the government and they heard us. We valued and appreciated the frank conversations and the responses we received to the issues we raised.” He acknowledged that complex issues often carry different understandings, and called for wisdom and discernment for government, religious leaders, and South Africans alike. The WCC, he said, will continue working with the SACC and through them with the South African government as both organizations pursue what they describe as a Pilgrimage of Justice, Reconciliation, and Unity. More information on the meeting is available at https://www.oikoumene.org/news/wcc-general-secretary-leadership-of-south-african-council-of-churches-meet-with-south-african-he-president-cyril-ramaphosa
Archbishop Sipuka emphasized that the President acknowledged the vital roles both the WCC and SACC play in helping people navigate contemporary challenges. He highlighted the President’s point that no country can remain open to everyone, and that African nations must work together to address root causes that drive migration.
Ms Ntuta, the First Vice President of SACC, stressed that the meeting reaffirmed South Africa’s identity. “It has been reiterated that we are not a xenophobic nation and have always been loving and welcoming to people from other countries and this message was very strongly emphasized today again by the President,” she said. She noted that human dignity and human rights remain central to the government’s approach as it implements processes to stabilize the country.
Rev. Dr Venter called the engagement encouraging and constructive. “We came away with the clear impression that both the World Council of Churches and the South African Council of Churches are regarded as valued partners in ongoing dialogue,” she said. She appreciated the President’s affirmation that South Africa’s Constitution continues to guide the government’s response to migrants and other pressing challenges across Africa and beyond. For Venter, such dialogue between religious institutions and the state remains essential to the pursuit of justice, human dignity, and the common good. Whether that dialogue translates into measurable change for the migrants and communities at the center of these conversations is the question South Africans will be watching.