South Africa's bishops warn of pre-election violence

(Vatican Radio) South Africa’s bishops have issued a warning about rising levels of political violence ahead of municipal elections to be held on August 3rd.

In a statement sent to the Catholic Information Service for Africa, Bishop Abel Gabuza, chair of the bishops’ Justice and Peace Commission, invited members of all political parties to take part in a day of prayer for peace next Wednesday, July 6th.

Listen to Philippa Hitchen's report: 

In the statement, Bishop Gabuza says peace in South Africa should never be taken for granted. To maintain peace, he insists, requires the responsibility of all citizens and political maturity on the part of the country’s leaders, especially during the election period. “The current levels of political violence do not reflect this sense of responsibility,” he warns.

In particular Bishop Gabuza says political leaders have not been “visible and loud enough in their condemnation of the recent factional violence and political assassinations.” He condemns those politicians who are mobilizing young people, “especially the unemployed youth, to engage in pre-election violence.” At the same time he appeals to young people in South Africa “not to allow themselves to be used by the politicians who exploit them in their “greed for power and government tenders.”

The bishop appeals to all eligible South Africans to cast their vote on August 3 and elect leaders who have the courage to speak out against greed and patronage politics. Finally, he calls on all political parties to participate in the day of prayer for peaceful elections, to be held in Durban on July 6th.