Inside Church
WCC encourages singing, praying for peace as creative ideas abound
Post author By Staff Writer
As local and regional church organizations express the desire to sing and pray for peace in ways larger than church walls can hold, World Council of Churches (WCC) acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca encouraged these public pilgrimages for justice and peace.
Russia's war with Ukraine: Five reasons why many African countries choose to be 'neutral'
President Cyril Ramaphosa holding an interaction with the Multichoice SMME Accelerator Activation, which showcases leading-edge small enterprises from South Africa in health tech, fin tech, the green economy, edtech and creative industries. The Accelerator Activation offers SMMEs the opportunity to unlock growth capital and market opportunities from investors across the UAE, and to leverage relationships from the Dubai Expo and trade stakeholders. 28/03/2022. Jairus Mmutle/GCIS
According to The Conversation, early March the United Nation's General Assembly voted on a resolution demanding Russia immediately stop its military operations in Ukraine.
Out of 193 member states, 141 voted in support of the resolution, five voted against, 35 abstained and 12 didn't vote at all. Of the 54 African member states, Eritrea voted against the resolution, 16 African countries including South Africa abstained, while nine other countries did not vote at all.
Photo: GCIS
Pope asks for prayers for his weekend visit to Malta
Pope Francis spoke about his Apostolic Journey coming up this weekend to the Mediterranean island of Malta.
The Pope said he looks forward to visiting that "luminous land" following in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul, who was warmly welcomed there after being shipwrecked at sea on his way to Rome.
WCC convenes roundtable on Ukraine, calls for diplomacy instead of threats, dialogue instead of confrontation
Those gathered included senior representatives of WCC member churches from several European countries neighbouring and directly affected by the current conflict.
"We regret that it was not possible for the representatives from Russia and Ukraine to travel to join us for this consultation, though they had accepted the invitation to do so," said WCC acting general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, convener of the gathering.
"This is one of several roundtables that will be convened."
National State of Disaster to end soon
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing the nation at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, on developments in South Africa's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 22/03/2022. Jairus Mmutle/GCIS
Cabinet has put afoot plans to end the National State of Disaster as early as next week.
However, in an effort to allow for a seamless transition, sections of the National Disaster Act would remain in place for 30 days or longer.
South Africa has been in a National State of Disaster since March 2020 when the country recorded its first case of COVID-19.
The development was on Tuesday announced by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, following a Cabinet meeting on Monday.
In transitioning, the Minister said government could not be "reckless and abrupt".
Addressing the media, she announced the gazetting the publishing of some regulations that should remain, in accordance with Section 27 of the Disaster Management Act, provides for the management of the post disaster management and rehabilitation.
The gazette proposes that when the National State of Disaster ends, some regulations should remain for not more than 30 days after that.
"So we publish these regulations for comments for 48 hours starting today and then we'll analyse what they say. Then the President will announce the end of the National State of Disaster, which will be before the 15th, depending on the comments.
"It might be around the fifth of April. This was also informed by the Disaster Management Centre, which has also done its own work and they've advised that the classification of pandemic at this point is no longer advisable," said the Minister.
The comments, she said, would then be analysed before the final decision was taken to end the National State of Disaster.
At that point, she said President Cyril Ramaphosa would then make an announcement on the next course of action, possibly next week.
These recommendations will consider issues such as the R350 Social Relief of Distress, the wearing of masks indoors. Currently, the wearing of the facemask is mandatory for every person in indoor public spaces, excluding children under the age of six.
"All gatherings including faith-based religious political, cultural, restaurants, you name it, in those gatherings a thousand people indoors will be allowed and 2 000 outdoors. However, if you want to go beyond the 1000, then you can go up to 50% of the venue.
"But that one has a condition that you must show that you have been vaccinated or show a certificate of a PCR test that is not older than 72 hours. But if it's a thousand, then those conditions do not apply," she said.
Indoor gatherings in the workplace are governed by this condition.
On regulation 75, land borders would now be fully operational.
However, the 32 borders would remain closed, "because they were not necessarily economic".
"But the ones that are open – 21 of them – are fully operational. When you from outside (the country), you must show either a PCR test that is not older than 72 hours or a vaccine certificate. If you have a vaccination certificate, you don't need the PCR test," she said.
The Minister said this would also be the requirement at the country's international airports and the Kruger National Park.
Issues such as the payment of the R350 SRD grant would continue but would be removed from the National Disaster regulations after 30 days.
She said the same would happen with the backlog of driver's license.
"That will continue to be addressed for that short period through the National Disaster Act, even when the National State of Disaster would have ended.
Dlamini Zuma said the No Fault Compensation Scheme would also continue when the regulations are repealed after 30 days, saying it was a post-disaster issue that needed to be addressed.
On this account, she said Cabinet on Monday and took a decision that government should move towards ending the National State of Disaster regulations but put in place those that will be in place for not more than 30 days as post-disaster rehabilitation, in compliance with the law and not stop "abruptly". – SAnews.gov.za
Committee makes recommendations to reduce rising fuel prices
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, Zet Luzipo, says urgent solutions need to be found and implemented to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices in the country.
Luzipo was addressing the committee during the tabling of the first draft of the report on fuel price increases.
The report shows an "exponential increase" in the cost of petrol – rising from at least R15.43 in December 2019 to about R20.83 currently in coastal areas.
For inland provinces, the price for petrol has now exceeded R20 and currently sits at R21.35 per litre from about some R15.88 per litre in 2019.
"At that time we were dealing with fuel hikes within the context of…a rise in commodity prices. Now, we are confronted with a new crisis which compounds the same work that initially was our responsibility to find a solution.
"Based on that we now have to deal with what we think needs to be taken into consideration what needs to be done with regards to mitigating all these issues," he said.
The committee's report recommended, amongst others, that:
The Ministers of Finance and Mineral Resources and Energy "develop mechanisms" in response to the fuel prices;
The review of the fuel price structure and all its aspects be expedited;
There should be investment in the upstream petroleum industry;
The option to build a refinery should be explored; and
More trade of oil and gas should be encouraged and coordinated between African countries through the African Union.
Luzipo highlighted that these measures are critical in order to avoid what could be a devastating blow to those who are already struggling to make ends meet.
"We all know the implications of the fuel prices. The actual person who feels the brunt at the end of the day is that individual who considers going somewhere [for example] to collect a social grant, who is going to be confronted with the fact that due to those fuel hikes, public transport becomes too expensive.
"It's that individual who is going to go to the shops [and] when he wants a full basket, he is unable to do so because the costs of fuel have been transferred to…products which find themselves on the shelves.
"It is not just a direct incurred cost. It also affects, down the value chain, a number of our people. Including those that have got minimal to survive on," he said. – SAnews.gov.za
Exhibition: Desmond Tutu & The Churches
A new and exciting permanent exhibition celebrating key aspects of the legacy of the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Mpilo Tutu has entered Cape Town's cultural heritage precinct. A first of its kind on the African continent, the state-of-the-art exhibition explores the multi-faceted life of this loved and respected global icon. The exhibition is housed at the historic Old Granary building, the home of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation and was curated in partnership with the Apartheid Museum.
The exhibition maps the Arch's legacy through six different themes and residents and visitors to Cape Town alike are invited to come and experience…
Residents and visitors to Cape Town alike are invited to come and experience the journey of one of South Africa's greatest sons. Upon entering the main exhibition, you will be greeted by the Arch and his anchor, his wife Nomalizo Leah Tutu, a life-long enabler to all his significant contributions in South Africa and globally. A special tribute to them as a couple is celebrated in the room entitled "Side by Side".
In Egypt the war in Ukraine is threatening the wheat supply and access to this staple food
According to the Conversation, Russia's war on Ukraine is disrupting global grain supplies. Restrictions on navigation in the Azov Sea and the closure of ports have interrupted grain shipments from Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, and economic sanctions are complicating purchase agreements.
Amid concerns about meeting food needs at home, Ukraine – which, together with Russia, supplies almost one-third of the world's traded wheat – has banned wheat exports. This turmoil in world wheat markets has resulted in a price increase of more than 50% since the invasion began.
Cardinal Parolin celebrates 40 years of relations between UK and Holy See
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Tuesday presided at a special Mass in the Basilica of St Paul Outside-the-Walls to mark the 40th anniversary of the re-establishment of full Diplomatic relations between the United Kingdom and the Holy See.
Con-celebrants included Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster and Cardinal Sean Brady, former Archbishop of Armagh, Northern Ireland, and Cardinal James Michael Harvey, Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls. The celebration was attended, amongst other officials and guests, by British Ambassador to the Holy See, Christopher Trott.
Photo: WCC
WCC expresses solidarity with Jerusalem heads of churches as settlers occupy Petra Hotel
Following the occupation of the historic Petra Hotel in East Jerusalem by members of a settler group, Patriarch Theophilos III and the heads of churches in Jerusalem are urging the Jerusalem police to act fairly and in accordance with their responsibilities.
The premises concerned are owned by the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and in a statement updated on 27 March, Patriarch Theophilos said that the "act of trespassing" was done illegally.
"The actors did not have an eviction notice and therefore took law into their own hands and subsequently committed a criminal offense," wrote Patriarch Theophilos. "There are some reports that police have intentionally defended the radical group or turned a blind eye to the illegal activities of Ateret Cohanim at the Little Petra Hotel."
From the desk of the General Secretary, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana
WCC expresses "very deep Christian concern" on COVID-19 outbreak in Democratic People's Republic of Korea
General fuel levy temporary suspension extended to August
Pope's pilgrimage of peace, hope, closeness to DRC and South Sudan
At Katholikentag, WCC moderator reflects on faith and hope
© 2023 , Bible Media News