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Ndungane says his job is done

Aid will not eradicate hunger in Africa, says Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane.Picture:Richard Shorey.© SUNDAY TIMES
Aid will not eradicate hunger in Africa, says Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane.Picture:Richard Shorey.© SUNDAY TIMES

Frank Maponya

Outgoing head of the Anglican Church Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane has described his 11-year-term in office as a success.

He will be retiring at the end of the year.

Ndungane poured his heart out during a function in Limpopo last week.

He was addressing pupils at the St Marks Comprehensive College in Jane Furse about the Historic Schools Restoration Project.

Ndungane said he was satisfied he was able to champion the cancellation of debts by poor African countries.

"I'm proud that we have also managed to establish what is now called the Pan African Infrastructural Fund, which has so far raised more than R650million to assist poor countries with issues of health and sanitation.

"I have also contributed to consolidating our democracy. And now I'm going into the restoration of historic schools," he said.

Asked what his views were regarding issues of gays and lesbians, the Archbishop said they needed to be loved and supported.

He said the church would continue to love homosexuals "as long as they remain celibate like any person we would take holy orders".

Ndungane said the church was considering all the debates regarding gays and lesbians with keen interest.

The 66-year-old archbishop, who took over from his world-renowned predecessor, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in 1996, said he felt it was time to "change the guard and get someone younger to take over the challenges of leading such a big church".

"Eleven years is a long time for an archbishop. It is not good to cling to power for a long time.

"We need to have confidence in the young generation to provide new leadership," he said.

On politics, he said no member of the clergy was allowed to become a card-carrying member of any political party.

"Our job is to participate in all political processes and to bring people together.

"My role was in the post-apartheid era, that of building the nation. The new archbishop will also have a new role," he said.

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