Latest news with #ThaboMakgoba
IOL News
27-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Archbishop Makgoba condemns Israel's conditions for aid to Gaza
Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers Israel's conditions for allowing life-giving aid to Gaza suggest 'a willingness to use starvation as a tool of ethnic cleansing', which would amount to a war crime, says Archbishop Thabo Makgoba. In a statement, Makgoba said the depths of the cruelty which the current Israeli administration is prepared to inflict on innocent civilians in Gaza is making it ever more difficult to find words to condemn it. 'Its refusal to allow life-giving supplies under conditions acceptable to experts in providing humanitarian aid suggests a willingness to use starvation as a tool of ethnic cleansing. This would amount to a war crime, and adds weight to the South African government's genocide case against the State of Israel at The Hague.' The archbishop said 'diplomacy seems to be reeling with ineffectiveness while Israel threatens to wipe out a whole nation.' He appealed for international pressure on Israel, adding: 'We pray especially that the United States will choose the right side of history, and bring a halt to Israel's aggression, which has now taken on levels which are vastly disproportionate to Hamas's heinous attack of October 2023.' Last week, the World Health Organisation warned that the health system was at breaking point as hostilities further intensified in Gaza. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Israel's intensified military operations continue to threaten an already weakened health system, amidst worsening mass population displacement and acute shortages of food, water, medical supplies, fuel and shelter,' the WHO said. Four major hospitals in Gaza - Kamal Adwan Hospital, Indonesia Hospital, Hamad Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics, and European Gaza Hospital - have had to suspend medical services due to their proximity to hostilities or evacuation zones, and attacks. WHO has recorded 28 attacks on health care in Gaza during this period and 697 attacks since October 2023. 'Only 19 of Gaza Strip's 36 hospitals remain operational, including one hospital providing basic care for the remaining patients still inside the hospital, and are struggling under severe supply shortages, lack of health workers, persistent insecurity, and a surge of casualties, all while staff work in impossible conditions. Of the 19 hospitals, 12 provide a variety of health services, while the rest are only able to provide basic emergency care. At least 94% of all hospitals in the Gaza Strip are damaged or destroyed.' The increased hostilities and new evacuation orders issued across northern and southern Gaza last week threaten to push even more health facilities out of service, WHO said. 'Currently, across the Gaza Strip, only 2000 hospital beds remain available, for a population of over 2 million people, grossly insufficient to meet the current needs. Of these, at least 40 beds are at risk of being lost as they are in hospitals within newly declared evacuation zones, while an additional 850 could be lost if conditions deteriorate at facilities near these zones.'
Russia Today
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
South African unity government infighting threatens confidence in democracy
Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba used his Easter sermon to not only preach about the meaning of significance of the weekend, but he also warned that Government of National Unit (GNU) 'grandstanding' threatens to create a 'crisis of confidence' in democracy, unless political parties learn to accept one another's legitimacy. Delivering his annual sermon at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, Makgoba also urged that the 'national dialogue' being planned by the presidency needs to be able to act independently, without being dictated to by politicians. 'In South Africa, it is a time during which the credibility and commitment to good governance of our political parties is seriously open to question,' he told the congregation. 'Last week leaders of the South African Council of Churches met with President Ramaphosa and members of his Cabinet, where we registered our protest at the way in which members of the GNU are engaging in grandstanding and political one-upmanship at the expense of resolving the urgent challenges our nation faces. 'For my part, I am concerned that unless our politicians stop playing these dangerous games and develop a proper respect for the legitimacy of their partners in the administration, the very concept of democratic governance in South Africa is headed for a crisis of confidence,' Makgoba said. He added that a section of the African National Congress (ANC) leadership finds it difficult to accept that they no longer enjoy the support of the majority of the electorate, 'and still behave as if they alone enjoy legitimacy'. 'The Democratic Party (DA) sometimes behaves as if its electoral support entitles it just to override the views of those who represented a far bigger proportion of the electorate in the last election. And at municipal level especially, we see small minority parties exercising far more power than their legitimacy entitles them to.' Makgoba said thirty years into democracy, the legitimacy of every party elected to Parliament needs to be respected, and no party should assume a legitimacy greater than their strength at the ballot box gives them. He also said success for the national dialogue depended on 'the process becoming everyone's business, not just the government's'. '...It is critical for the credibility of the dialogue for it to be free from manipulation by political and economic elites. 'To avoid that happening, the President's proposed Advisory Panel of Eminent Persons and the dialogue's steering committee need to be able to act independently, without being dictated to by politicians. The relevance of the dialogue will depend on how representative its deliberations are of the full spectrum of South African society,' Makgoba said. 'We will establish true justice in South Africa only if we fulfill the promises of our Constitution by working together for the common good. If we fail to show that democracy can improve the lives of our people, we run the risk of going the way of those countries in the so-called developed world which are threatening to slide downwards into populist autocracies.'First published by IOL
Eyewitness News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Pope's death feels almost like a personal loss says Archbishop Makgoba
CAPE TOWN - As tributes pour in for Pope Francis, Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba has said that the Pope's death feels almost like a personal loss. According to the Vatican, the pontiff died at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta. He was 88 years old. READ: Pope Francis has died: Vatican Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba has described Pope Francis as a leader who gave clear guidance in a complex and polarised political world. The archbishop said the was an incredible, prophetic pastor whose vision was a 'church of the poor for the poor.' He says the poor of the world will miss Pope Francis the most, as he was a champion and custodian of their hopes and dreams. Archbishop Makgoba adds that the greater Christian family will also miss the Holy Father, as a great human being and a great church leader. Makgoba said he'll always remember the many special moments the Pope spent with them as bishops of the Anglican church.
IOL News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Crisis of confidence in democracy looms, warns Archbishop Makgoba
Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba used his Easter sermon to not only preach about the meaning of significance of the weekend, but he also warned that Government of National Unit (GNU) 'grandstanding' threatens to create a 'crisis of confidence' in democracy, unless political parties learn to accept one another's legitimacy. Delivering his annual sermon at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, Makgoba also urged that the 'national dialogue' being planned by the presidency needs to be able to act independently, without being dictated to by politicians. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'In South Africa, it is a time during which the credibility and commitment to good governance of our political parties is seriously open to question,' he told the congregation. 'Last week leaders of the South African Council of Churches met with President Ramaphosa and members of his Cabinet, where we registered our protest at the way in which members of the GNU are engaging in grandstanding and political one-upmanship at the expense of resolving the urgent challenges our nation faces. 'For my part, I am concerned that unless our politicians stop playing these dangerous games and develop a proper respect for the legitimacy of their partners in the administration, the very concept of democratic governance in South Africa is headed for a crisis of confidence,' Makgoba said. He added that a section of the African National Congress (ANC) leadership finds it difficult to accept that they no longer enjoy the support of the majority of the electorate, 'and still behave as if they alone enjoy legitimacy'. 'The Democratic Party (DA) sometimes behaves as if its electoral support entitles it just to override the views of those who represented a far bigger proportion of the electorate in the last election. And at municipal level especially, we see small minority parties exercising far more power than their legitimacy entitles them to.' Makgoba said thirty years into democracy, the legitimacy of every party elected to Parliament needs to be respected, and no party should assume a legitimacy greater than their strength at the ballot box gives them. He also said success for the national dialogue depended on 'the process becoming everyone's business, not just the government's'. '...It is critical for the credibility of the dialogue for it to be free from manipulation by political and economic elites. 'To avoid that happening, the President's proposed Advisory Panel of Eminent Persons and the dialogue's steering committee need to be able to act independently, without being dictated to by politicians. The relevance of the dialogue will depend on how representative its deliberations are of the full spectrum of South African society,' Makgoba said.
IOL News
21-04-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
GNU grandstanding threatens to create a crisis of confidence in democracy, says Archbishop Makgoba
Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba used his Easter sermon to not only preach about the meaning of significance of the weekend, but he also warned that Government of National Unit (GNU) 'grandstanding' threatens to create a 'crisis of confidence' in democracy, unless political parties learn to accept one another's legitimacy. Delivering his annual sermon at St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, Makgoba also urged that the 'national dialogue' being planned by the presidency needs to be able to act independently, without being dictated to by politicians. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'In South Africa, it is a time during which the credibility and commitment to good governance of our political parties is seriously open to question,' he told the congregation. 'Last week leaders of the South African Council of Churches met with President Ramaphosa and members of his Cabinet, where we registered our protest at the way in which members of the GNU are engaging in grandstanding and political one-upmanship at the expense of resolving the urgent challenges our nation faces. 'For my part, I am concerned that unless our politicians stop playing these dangerous games and develop a proper respect for the legitimacy of their partners in the administration, the very concept of democratic governance in South Africa is headed for a crisis of confidence,' Makgoba said. He added that a section of the African National Congress (ANC) leadership finds it difficult to accept that they no longer enjoy the support of the majority of the electorate, 'and still behave as if they alone enjoy legitimacy'. 'The Democratic Party (DA) sometimes behaves as if its electoral support entitles it just to override the views of those who represented a far bigger proportion of the electorate in the last election. And at municipal level especially, we see small minority parties exercising far more power than their legitimacy entitles them to.' Makgoba said thirty years into democracy, the legitimacy of every party elected to Parliament needs to be respected, and no party should assume a legitimacy greater than their strength at the ballot box gives them. He also said success for the national dialogue depended on 'the process becoming everyone's business, not just the government's'. '...It is critical for the credibility of the dialogue for it to be free from manipulation by political and economic elites. 'To avoid that happening, the President's proposed Advisory Panel of Eminent Persons and the dialogue's steering committee need to be able to act independently, without being dictated to by politicians. The relevance of the dialogue will depend on how representative its deliberations are of the full spectrum of South African society,' Makgoba said.
