Special Report Transcript Episode 24, Section 3, Time 11:32

As elsewhere so here at Stellenbosch the ideology of nationalism in the course of time left a substantial imprint on Christians’ ways of thought. It made us insensitive to the injustice and suffering inflicted by the policy of apartheid about many of those living in close proximity to us. The overall result has been that we in Stellenbosch did not speak out enough against injustice in our society, did not speak out enough against racist attitudes amongst our church members; did not speak out enough against impairment of people’s true, human dignity. During the Soweto riots of 1976 and in line countrywide unrest that followed, vague resolutions were passed concerning the state of affairs, but very little protest was voiced against the ongoing gross violations of human rights. We confess that we kept silent at times when we should have spoken out clearly in testimony. We confess that, although we did at times try to protest against the unjust treatment of people, we often did so only with great timidity and circumspection. We did at times comment critically, but we often in doing so shrank from speaking out against the system itself. What is more, we often gave way to the opposition we encountered at the very times when we should have continued to speak out clearly for the truth and against injustice. We grew tired and gave up protesting. Today we confess these things anew before the many people of Stellenbosch and vicinity.

Notes: Dr Hannes Koornhof

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