Month: June 2022

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Inside Church

From the desk of the General Secretary, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana

REV FRANK CHIKANE & SACC DELEGATION TO REPORT ON VISIT TO HOLY LAND

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) joined former SACC Vice-President and former General Secretary of the SACC, the Rev Frank Chikane, in his capacity as the Moderator of the Churches Commission on International Affairs (CCIA) of the World Council Churches (WCC) and Emeritus Pastor of the Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa (AFM) in undertaking a pastoral visit to Palestine/Israel from 24-27 May 2022.

The delegation included Rev Mzwandile Molo, the Director – Church Liaison & Community Empowerment for the SACC, and Rev. Moss Ntlha, the General Secretary of The Evangelical Alliance of South Africa (TEASA) and a pastor of the Ebenezer Evangelical Church.

The delegation attended the annual “Christ at the Checkpoint” Conference in Bethlehem, Palestine, and additionally undertook different engagements to interaction with Church leaders, community leaders and human rights groups in Palestine and Israel. Visits to communities and families of the oppressed were also conducted, which uncovered the full extent of the 55 years illegal occupation of Palestine by Israel.

You are therefore invited to attend the media briefing where the delegation will offer a report back on their visit:

DATE: Thursday 2 June 2022

TIME: 10:30 am for 11:00 am
VENUE: SACC Head Office, Khotso House, 62 Marshall St, JHB CBD

Photo: Facebook

Categories
In The News

WCC expresses “very deep Christian concern” on COVID-19 outbreak in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

“We stand with you in solidarity and prayer in the midst of this time of trial,” wrote Sauca. “We grieve with you before God, for the loss of those who have been taken by this pandemic.”

Sauca also expressed solidarity with those who share the pain of those who are sick and suffering. “It is our hope and prayer that during this crisis God will continue to accompany you and uphold you as the North Korean people strives for healing and recovery,” Sauca wrote. “As a global community of faith, we affirm that, even amid our vulnerability, we trust in God who is our hope.”

Sauca communicated a spirit of living hope. “While we all live amidst fear, anxiety, and uncertainty during this ongoing pandemic, may our faith and spiritual values sustain us to live with hope in God’s abundant mercies, love, care and protection,” he concluded.

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Photo: Unsplash

Categories
In The News

General fuel levy temporary suspension extended to August

Government has offered much-needed short-term reprieve to motorists by extending the temporary reduction in the general fuel levy of R1.50 per litre.

Initially, the Ministers of Finance and Mineral Resources and Energy had on 31 March 2022 jointly announced a temporary reduction in the general fuel levy of R1.50 per litre from 6 April 2022 until 31 May 2022.

This was to provide limited short term relief to households from rising fuel prices following the Russia/Ukraine conflict.

On Tuesday, the two departments said relief was to be funded by a liquidation of a portion of the strategic crude oil reserves.

“Since this announcement, the continuation of the Russia/Ukraine conflict, supply chain bottle-necks and a tightening of global monetary policy have led to further unfavourable changes in the two key drivers of the regulated petrol price, the exchange rate and the global oil price.

“These events have led to even larger increases in fuel prices compared to a few months ago when the temporary fuel levy relief was introduced. The withdrawal of the temporary relief in the general fuel levy on 31 March 2022, as per the original announcement, would contribute to an increase in petrol prices of close to R4 per litre, and push prices of 95 octane unleaded petrol (ULP) to above R25 per litre, an increase of just under 20 percent next month.”

The departments said due to this significant monthly price increase, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Tuesday submitted a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly, requesting the tabling of a two-month proposal for the extension of the reduction in the general fuel levy.

“This will take the form of a continuation of the relief of R1.50 per litre for the first month, from 1 June 2022 to 6 July 2022, and then a downward adjustment to the relief for the second month to 75c per litre from 7 July 2022 to 2 August 2022,” they said.

They added that the temporary relief would be withdrawn from 3 August 2022.

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Photo: Unsplash