South Africa has one of the world’s most lopsided distributions of wealth. Extreme economic inequality, a legacy of decades of minority rule, has left more than half of the population in poverty. The South African Council of Churches (SACC) is working to help people develop sustainable livelihoods. For example, a group of fifteen women in Jan Kempdorp in the Northern Cape has begun to farm peanuts with the council’s encouragement. “We agreed to supply a water tank, some pipes for irrigation, and fencing,” says Sakina Mohamed, director of SACC’s Poverty Eradication Program. “The women went to the local government and said, ‘The SACC has offered this, how can you help?’ So the municipality gave them two acres of land to farm. It’s made the women realize they really can do a lot.”

The town allocated more land for a vegetable garden so that the women can provide food for orphans and elderly people. They hope to grow enough to sustain a soup kitchen and school lunch program. They are also exploring the idea of organic gardens that can supply more exotic vegetables for specialty markets. “Now these women look forward to every day because they feel they are doing something of worth for the community,” Sakina says, beaming.

The most successful council initiatives share a common trait: they enjoy a strong connection with a local church. “It may be just one or two people in a congregation who provide the link and the encouragement,” says Sakina, “but that type of anchor seems to be the key to stability and success.”

Partners/Ministries
South African Council of Churches (SACC): Mr. Eddie Makue, general secretary, Prof. Russel Botman, president • Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa: Rev. N. Joseph Tshawane, moderator, Rev. Titus R. Mobbie, general secretary, Rev. Dixon Masangu, finance officer • Presbyterian Church of Africa: Rt. Rev. B. N. Maujulwa, moderator, Rev. W. L. Faleni, stated clerk • Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa (UPCSA): Rev. William Pool, moderator, Rev. Vuyani S. Vellem, general secretary • Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA): S. T. Kgatla, moderator, Rev. John Collin Goeiman, general secretary • Presbytery Partnerships: Presbytery of Donegal, Presbytery of Florida, Presbytery of New York City, North Alabama Presbytery, and Presbytery of Northern New England with the UPCSA; Presbytery of Western New York with the URCSA; Presbytery of Western Reserve with CLEVESA (Cleveland-South Africa)

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Elder Anthony C. Booth, CFCS
Karen P. Bosc, GAC
Randy A. Bowman, GAC