The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) announces with deep sorrow the passing of Mr Johan Viljoen, who was called to his eternal rest at his home on Wednesday night, 06 May 2026.

We commend his soul to the loving mercy of God and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all who had the privilege of working alongside him in the service of the Church and humanity.

Born on 11 March 1961 in Nairobi, Kenya, and raised in Pretoria, South Africa, Viljoen studied law at the University of Pretoria before serving as an officer in the South African Air Force. He later pursued theological studies and ministered as an Anglican priest in communities such as Soshanguve and Winterveldt in the Diocese of Pretoria.

His journey of faith took a decisive turn in 1991 when, while working with refugees through the SACBC Migrants and Refugees Office, he was received into the Catholic Church. From that moment, his life became deeply rooted in humanitarian service and advocacy for displaced people, victims of conflict, and communities devastated by poverty and disease.

Viljoen worked extensively with refugees in Mozambique, Angola, and South Africa through the SACBC Refugee Bureau and the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS). His work focused on health care, education, legal assistance, advocacy, and emergency relief for people fleeing war and persecution.

He became widely known for his leadership in the SACBC AIDS Office, where he served as Deputy Director and Senior Programme Manager from 2000 onward. During the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis in Southern Africa, he helped lead one of the Catholic Church’s most significant healthcare interventions on the continent.

At a time when access to antiretroviral treatment remained limited in the public sector, the SACBC AIDS programme expanded under his leadership to 22 Catholic healthcare facilities, assisting more than 45,000 people to receive life-saving treatment. Working alongside international partners such as USAID PEPFAR and Catholic Relief Services, Viljoen also strengthened prevention campaigns, home-based care initiatives, and support programmes for orphaned children.

Among the projects closest to his heart was the Homeplan initiative, which provided homes for orphaned and child-headed households in vulnerable communities. The programme continues to operate in parts of Southern Africa today.

In April 2017, Viljoen was appointed Director of the Denis Hurley Peace Institute, the SACBC body dedicated to peacebuilding, conflict analysis, and advocacy in Africa. In this role, he became a strong Catholic voice for peace and justice in conflict zones, particularly in Mozambique, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He frequently warned against simplistic interpretations of African conflicts that ignored the impact of international competition for the continent’s natural resources. He believed that the Church had a responsibility not only to accompany victims of war and displacement, but also to challenge the structures that perpetuate violence and inequality.

In loving memory of Mr Johan Viljoen, the SACBC Secretariat, led by the Secretary General Fr Hugh O’Connor, will celebrate a memorial Mass for the repose of his soul and in thanksgiving for his dedicated service to the Church on Monday, 11 May 2026.

Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days.

May his soul rest in peace.