December 28, 2011 to January 3, 2012
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Death of Southern Cross stalwart journalist Page 3
No 4756
Pope Benedict’s message for New Year’s Day
In 2012, grow in holiness
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How S Africa will shape up in 2012 BY CLAIRE MATHIESON
T
HE African National Congress’ national conference in December 2012 will colour much of South African politics in the new year, according to Mike Pothier, research director of the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office (CPLO). At the conference in Mangaung, the ANC will elect—or reject—its president and other senior office bearers—and with that the likely next president of South Africa. “It appears that just about everything that President Jacob Zuma does is very much influenced by this pre-election stage. So whenever he makes a decision to hire or fire a minister or senior official, people are analysing it in terms of what it may mean for the national conference and what is he trying to achieve,” said Mr Pothier. Mr Pothier stressed that the conference would not necessarily be behind every decision made in the next year, but it will certainly be a highly influential consideration throughout the year. Another interesting development will concern the gathering of opposition parties, Mr Pothier predicted. He said a formal merger is unlikely, “but it could be the beginning of unity”. The fragmentation of the opposition in previous years has been unhelpful, but as the parties have come together on certain issues, there is a common face against the ANC on mutual interests, such as the controversial Protection of Information Act. The CPLO’s education expert, Kenny Pasensie, said the new Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (or CAPS) will be implemented and has so far been seen as a positive addition to the education system. CAPS is a new guideline which teachers of all subjects will be required to follow. The document includes what to teach, how long to teach for, the number of assignments to be completed and evaluation procedures. The new system is being introduced in various phases and Mr Pasensie said that teachers should welcome it. He also pointed out that in 2012 many of the so-called “born-frees”—those born in 1994—will matriculate. Plans for a National Health Insurance (NHI) will be another familiar topic in the new year as pilot projects are launched. “But, we will only start to get a better idea
A Nativity scene and Christmas tree are on stage during a papal audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican. The display is from the Mexican state of Puebla and the tree from Ukraine. (Photo: Paul Haring, CNS)
of what the NHI will look like once the budget speech is delivered,” said Mr Pasensie. “Only then will we get a better idea of how much it will cost and start to see where the money will be spent,” said Mr Pasensie. CPLO researcher Palesa Siphuma said the beginning of 2012 will be filled with post COP17 analysis—both on the successes and shortcomings of the conference and the impact it made in the country. “I think eco-issues will be more visible in the next year, but it is still likely to fall short of what is needed,” Ms Siphuma said. The government has yet to establish a clear direction on what kind of power generation strategies it will prefer in the future and this will leave some confused. The government plans to forge ahead with a new R80 billion coal power plant, will continue planning for a new nuclear plant as well as making funds available for independent power producers who will produce cleaner and renewable energy. “There seem to be a lot of competing agendas when it comes to power, and this is going to be a major environmental concern for 2012.” Mr Pothier said the CPLO will also investigate animal conservation—an area which he said was not getting nearly as much local attention as need be. With rhinos regularly poached and a massive natural heritage, “we want to see whether conservation efforts are happening effectively”. Other areas of interest for the CPLO in the new year will include the youth, the disabled, the elderly and prisoners. The Children’s Act will again come under the spotlight, said researcher Lois Law. “A top priority is the governance around the foster care of children and the appropriate paying of grants,” she said. The Children’s Act is continuously amended as the environment in which children are today growing up changes regularly, Ms Law explained. One issue that may find its way into the act is that of cultural practices. Virginity testing and genital mutilation were two practices previously not included in the act as they were not considered to be local practices. But due to migration patterns in recent years, these have become increasingly more common and laws around such practices will soon be included in the Children’s Act.
Stigmatine Fathers Jacob Banda and MacLloyd Mdzinga were ordained at St John the Baptist parish in Pretoria North by Archbishop William Slattery, seen here laying his hands on Fr Banda. Archbishop emeritus George Daniel of Pretoria and Bishop emeritus Boniface Setlalekgosi of Gaborone, Botswana, concelebrated. The new priests were given their obedience by the Stigmatine superior in Southern Africa, Fr Patrick Rakeketsi CSS. Fr Banda was born in Chipata, Zambia, and will be an assistant priest in Soshanguve, Pretoria. Fr Mdzinga comes from Dedza, Malawi, and will assist at Gaborone-West, Botswana.
Former PE bishop dies BY CLAIRE MATHIESON
B
ISHOP Michael Coleman will be remembered as a caring and active leader, and a great storyteller. The retired bishop of Port Elizabeth died on December 17 after a battle with cancer. He was 72. He had headed the diocese for 25 years until he retired in August due to his illness. At the time, Bishop Coleman said he was grateful for the privilege of serving the Eastern Cape’s largest diocese. Mgr Brendan Deenihan, apostolic administrator of Port Elizabeth, said: “His passing leaves a great void in the diocese, especially after having celebrated his silver jubilee in July. We are happy that his suffering is over and he is at peace, enjoying his eternal reward.” He described the late bishop as a “remarkable man. He gave active leadership. He was a caring man.” Born in Mafikeng and raised in Uitenhage and Kimberley, where he attended Christian Brothers College, Bishop Coleman dedicated most of his life to work in the Eastern Cape. His first pastoral ministry was Grahamstown, where he was ordained a priest on June 30, 1963. From there he worked with various disadvantaged communities around the Eastern Cape. He also worked with seminarians as a lecturer in the formation programme at St Peter’s seminary in Hammanskraal, Pretoria, in the 1980s. Bishop Coleman was ordained head of the Port Elizabeth diocese by Archbishop Stephen Naidoo of Cape Town on June 22, 1986, succeeding Bishop John Murphy. Anneliese Bekkers, his secretary for nearly 25 years, said Bishop Coleman was the perfect example of a prayerful man who made sure that the diocese’s work was for the Lord and his people. “He treated us all as part of his family, always concerned for our and our families’ well-being. And, of course, his sense of humour kept us constantly on our toes. He was a great storyteller and we enjoyed many, many hours listening to his experiences as
scholar, seminarian and young priest.” Bishop Coleman built 25 churches during his 25 years. He also dedicated his tenure to increase the number of religious in the diocese, to ensure quality of education and to make certain the youth felt welcomed by the Church. Messages of condolence flooded both social networks and the chancery at the news of Bishop Coleman’s death. One commentator on Facebook said he believed the “diocese will always remember you not only for being our bishop but a friend also”. Another mourner on Facebook said the bishop had “fought the good fight. May you now enjoy eternal life with the Lord”. Neill Deane, manager of St Luke’s Retreat in Port Elizabeth said while the late bishop was his boss and sometimes acted in a bosslike manner, he will always be remembered as a “kind, smiling and gentle soul who loved nature and especially wild life with a passion”. Bishop Coleman would spend any free time on his family farm near Grahamstown. “We often had private chats about spirituality and in particular our Catholic faith. He was approachable and always gave me encouragement in any challenges that arose at St Luke’s. “It was his dream to have a retreat centre in the diocese, and I have been blessed in playing a small part in realising that dream for him,” said Mr Deane. Throughout his illness, Bishop Coleman was “always patient, enduring whatever took place and was done to him without complaint”, said Miss Bekkers. “In the many hours of suffering he did not stop praying and encouraged us to join him in prayer.” She added those who worked with him will miss the bishop. “I am convinced that he will intercede for us and his diocese in his heavenly home,” she said.