Address by Bishop Rubin Phillip, Anglican Bishop of Natal(KZN) - at St Philip’s Anglican Church, Fingo Village in Grahamstown, 19th September, 2012.

Remembering Steve Biko: a Bright & Guiding Light in Dark Times

As the Unemployed People's Movement have noted we gather here in Grahamstown to honour the memory of Steve Biko, a man who was indeed a bright and guiding light, at a moment when a dark night is settling over our country. As the light of our democratic dawn dims we all have to look inward and find our courage, individually and collectively, for the struggles ahead. Make no mistake - the massacre at Marikana was a turning point and the path ahead will be difficult and will require real courage.

Marikana Massacre Memorial Service
Friday, 24th August 2012, Emmanuel Cathedral

And so, again, the truth of our country is in dead black bodies littering the ground. Once again, the truth of our time is that people asserting their rights and dignity against systemic injustice have been brought down in a hail of bullets. Has nothing changed in our place, when its truth remains that the armed might of the state acts for the elite of powerful and wealthy, and against our people? No self-righteous declarations of 'tragedy'; no insisting on 'complexity'; no obfuscatory 'commissions of enquiry'; are enough to hide that truth. The truth is plain to masses of the people of South Africa, it is an affront to God.

Statement on Threats Made to S'bu Zikode

When we heard that eThekweni Mayor, James Nxumalo, agreed to meet with a delegation from the shackdwellers movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo (AbM), we were hopeful that a new page was being turned. Perhaps now there can be meaningful engagement between the organised poor and the City of Durban.

But if there is to be real progress, then the actions of Nigel Gumede (Chairperson of the Housing and Infrastructure Portfolio Committee) in that meeting must be condemned. Gumede made angry and violent threats against S'bu Zikode, AbM Chairperson. We must insist that for genuine partnership to be built, it must be on the basis of respect for all people. The fragile prospects of new beginnings in Durban cannot be undermined by Gumede's ongoing hostility and disrespect. This sort of behaviour cannot be allowed to impede the full flowering of our democracy.

18 July 2011
Press statement of Bishop Rubin Phillip on the acquittal of the 'Kennedy 12'

FOR URGENT AND IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Victory for Abahlali baseMjondolo - Defeat of our detractors!

We celebrate the victory that the shack-dwellers' movement, Abahlali
baseMjondolo, has won in court today where ALL of the 'Kennedy 12' have finally
been acquitted of ALL charges against them.

Bishop Rubin Phillip

For three years, since the violent attacks on Kennedy Road in 2009, we have

Christmas Message

Bishop Rubin Phillip, Anglican Bishop of Natal (KZN)

As 2010 draws to a close our growing inequality, deepening political intolerance, widespread contempt for the poor, awful propensity to violence against our women and children, our greedy exploitation of other people's poverty and joblessness, and our rape of the resources of the world that we share, are all an affront to God.

All these remain markers of the presence of death against which we commit ourselves to fight.

Statement on Week 1 of the Trial of the Kennedy 12

3 December 2010

The build up to this case has been long and deeply compromised. Already in November 2009 I publicly said that “[J]ustice has been delayed far beyond the point at which it was clear that it had been denied. … It is patently clear that there was a political dimension to the attack and that the response of the police has been to pursue that political agenda rather than justice”.

More than a year later, that politically motivated case against the Kennedy 12 is finally being played out in a Durban courtroom. We do not presume to anticipate the outcome of the case – that process must run its course; the judge will render a verdict; and we'll re-look carefully at what's happened at that point (1). So far, no witness has credibly linked any accused individual to any crime that they are charged with.

Click here to read this article in Italian.

Statement from Bishop Rubin Phillip
21 July 2010
Why a full and independent enquiry remains vital

Over the past months we have continued to receive strong support for our intention to convene an independent Commission of Enquiry into the awful violence that was visited on the shack settlement of Kennedy Road in September 2009. Only such an enquiry will really help us all sift truth from lies, and establish a full picture of the events and their ongoing aftermath, as well as the full context and implications of what has happened. From community organisations and senior church leadership in this country, to community-based organisations in London and justice groups in congregations in Scotland, to senior international figures in the churches and the human rights scene, we have been moved and encouraged by their commitment to and active interest in finding the truth. These developments, together with the extraordinary support and wise counsel of many we are working with on the matter, keep us resolute and confident. Confident not only that the Commission process will happen but that when it does, it will deliver an outcome of unquestionable integrity. The necessary groundwork to facilitate the Commission's work is under way.

Justice on Trial
A statement at the commencement of the trial of the Kennedy 12
11 July 2010

In September 2009 attacks took place in the Kennedy Road settlement against the leadership of the shack-dwellers' movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo. Those attacks shook our society, and led some to observe that our hard won democracy was under attack. As the trial finally commences on Monday 12 July 2010 against those whom the state has chosen to prosecute in relation to the attacks, we remain deeply dismayed and critical of the fact that no-one has been arrested and charged:

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/a.bishops.pursuit.of.justice.for.south.africas.shack.dwellers/26028.htm

A bishop's pursuit of justice for South Africa's shack dwellers

The Bishop of Natal in South Africa, Rubin Phillip, speaks here about the struggle for justice for the nation's shack dwellers and his commitment to seeing those in suffering take charge of their own destiny.

by Emma Pomfret, Christian Aid Thursday, June 3, 2010

The first black South African to hold the position of Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Natal, and chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council (KZNCC), Rubin Phillip is currently in the UK to raise awareness about the plight of the Durban-based shack-dweller movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo.

This statement was released on 26 April 2010

PRESS STATEMENT FROM THE KWAZULU-NATAL CHURCH LEADERS GROUP

As church leaders in KwaZulu Natal, we have noted a public statement (see footnote) released by the shack dweller’s movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo on Tuesday 20 April 2010. This statement makes explicit the continued, criminal and violent intimidation of members of Abahlali in Kennedy Road by elements of the ruling party, the ANC. This violence, oppression and intimidation continues the sustained attack on Abahlali in Kennedy Road, the low-light of which was surely the organised and violent attack launched in the night on September 28th of last year. We are not just disturbed by Abahlali's most recent statement, we are outraged and we cannot remain silent.