The members of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) say it is contemplating writing a “Kairos document” amid calamity in South Africa.

During the SACBC second plenary held at Mariannhill retreat centre from August 14-18, the Catholic Bishops of South Africa, Botswana, and Eswatini addressed various sociopolitical issues including the South African crisis.

Following a workshop on the Christian, Biblical, and theological 1985 Kairos document, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Johannesburg says the SACBC is “contemplating writing a pastoral letter to not only to the Catholic community in South Africa but to (all) South Africans,” to write a “Cairo’s document” that will address the crisis.

In a SACBC plenary video update, Archbishop Buti Joseph Tlhagale says the Kairos document “will cite the different moments of crisis,” in South Africa as the country approaches the general elections in 2024.

“The leadership of the country, there seems to be an internal war going on among the leaders instead of attending to the needs of people, there is also an experience of corruption in the country,” he adds.

Archbishop Tlhagale further says the SACBC hopes the “document will really lift up the spirits of the people and give them a new hop.”

Meanwhile, Bishop Thulani Victor Mbuyisa of Kokstad Diocese says that one of the issues addressed in the  Kairos document should “first of all give encouragement to the people of this country,” as many are “disillusioned with the current political situation.”

In the August 16 video update, Bishop Mbuyisa calls on eligible voters to “remember that we are responsible for the direction” and future of the country.