From 3-8 August, the South African Council of Churches, in partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Councils in Southern Africa, welcomed church leaders from Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, Tanzania, and Eswatini for a regional solidarity visit to South Africa.
Taking place in both the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, the visits provided an opportunity for church leaders to engage with communities, faith leaders, government, and civil society, listening to the lived experiences of migrants and reflecting together on the church’s role in promoting human dignity, justice, peace, and social cohesion.
They met with migrants and refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and other African countries, as well as community and church leaders, the KZN Christian Council, African Solidarity Campaign, Refugee Social Services, and Lawyers for Human Rights.
The group listened to deeply personal accounts of conflict, displacement, and the painful realities of rebuilding lives far from home, the uncertainty many continue to live with, even after decades in South Africa, and the longing for peace in the countries they were forced to leave.
Yet amid these difficult stories, many also spoke with gratitude for the love, welcome, and support they have received from South Africans, churches, and local communities.
Rev. Mzwandile Molo, general secretary of the South African Council of Churches, said that those gathered reflected on what the migration crisis has caused—not only in South Africa, but across the region.
“We know that many people have been intimidated, harassed, and, in many ways, forced to leave South Africa,” said Molo. “Many of them are our brothers and sisters from within the region.”
As they gathered, church leaders across the region raised serious concerns, such as: What is the nature of this crisis? How is it being expressed? And what is its impact on our people and our region?
“Part of this process is listening and understanding what has been happening,” said Molo.
“They are doing this because part of their responsibility is to offer a pastoral response—to the people here in South Africa and also to those who have returned to their countries.”
In understanding the nature of the crisis, Molo continued, they want to express their solidarity with those who have been affected.
“From that perspective, they will share with South African church leaders and communities the prophetic challenge of our time,” said Molo. “Most importantly, throughout this journey, they will ask: How can we respond in a comprehensive way that ensures that events like this do not happen again?”
Molo urged that all those who contribute to creating and covering up the chaos in the region be called to account.
“And, most importantly, how do we unite the people of our region so that we can restore the values of Ubuntu and the values of Africa, while making a firm commitment to ensuring that migration is managed fairly, humanely, and in a way that strengthens our communities and our region?” he asked. “Our goal is to build a coherent, cohesive, dignified, economically strong, socially united, and politically stable region.”
WCC General Secretary, leadership of South African Council of Churches meet with South African H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa (WCC news release, 30 July 2026)
