The member churches of the Southern African Council of Churches (SACC) during
their Triennial Conference held in October 2024, elected Bishop Sithembele Anton
Sipuka of Mthatha Diocese as the new president, making him the first Catholic to
head the ecumenical body in Southern Africa.

In a conversation with the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC)
Communication office about the election, Bishop Sipuka said his appointment was
sudden, as he was nominated without other nominations which led to a quick decision.

For the outgoing SACBC president, his election as the first Catholic president of the SACC reflects a continued collaboration between the ecumenical body and the SACBC.

Bishop Sipuka’s dedication to both the spiritual and social dimensions of the Catholic Church’s mission in Southern Africa has led him to several key leadership positions. Before he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Mthatha, he served as Rector of St. John Vianney National Seminary.

Bishop Siouka has also served as vice president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) where he advocated for synodality, the concept of the Church journeying together in unity, and Catholic Social Teachings, especially regarding social justice, good governance, and care for creation.

Since his election on October 17, Bishop Sipuka has recently led the SACBC and SACC delegation during a solidarity visit to Mozambique following post-election unrest, where they met with members of the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique (CEM), representatives from the Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM), and with representatives from the Mozambican Ministry of Justice, Constitutional and Religious Affairs.

In the interview with the SACBC communication office, Bishop Sipuka said he is interested in exploring all three guiding principles of the ecumenical movement —praying together, theological dialogue for unity, and addressing social issues collectively.

According to the October 17 media statement, the immediate former president of the SACC Archbishop of Cape Town, Dr Thabo Makgoba, “handed over the mantle to the new leadership with an appeal for the new leadership to stand for and serve the people.”

“I call on our new leadership to stand and work for the interests of the weak and the
marginalised, wherever and among whoever they may be found, in South Africa and the world,” said Archbishop Makgoba.

The member churches of the SACC also elected Ms Lulama Ntuta, Anglican Church
of Southern Africa as the first vice president and Rev Dr Nioma Venter, Dutch
Reformed Church as the second vice president.

The SACC is an influential ecumenical organization in Southern Africa, bringing
together various Christian denominations, including Protestant, Anglican, and Catholic churches, to promote unity and social justice.

Founded in 1968, the SACC has played a significant role in addressing social, political, and economic issues, particularly during the apartheid era in South Africa. It operates primarily in South Africa but also connects with Christian bodies in Botswana and Eswatini.