The three-person panel appointed to review the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA)'s handling of reports of abuse committed by the late John Smyth in South Africa has called for input from the public.
The panel, appointed by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, has requested the public to assist with information relevant to its inquiries where Smyth is accused of having committed sexual abuse and “abuse in England and Zimbabwe” of at least 85 boy victims.
The panel consists of SA civil society leader, Dr Mamphela Ramphele, SA and British barrister Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett SC KC, and retired judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal, Ian Farlam, who will conduct the review and make recommendations to Makgoba.
On Friday, the panel announced the terms of reference of its review and noted that among its tasks was to “establish if any reports or complaints are recorded as received by ACSA regarding membership by Smyth of ACSA and his activities in South Africa, and if so, what was done by ACSA in response to any such reports or complaints.”
“The panel further noted that its tasks included ‘whether, if any such reports or complaints were made to ACSA, ACSA failed in any duty to convey such reports or complaints to any appropriate authority.’ Information received by ACSA, supplemented by the report into Smyth's activities commissioned by the Church of England indicates that during his time in South Africa, Smyth attended St Paul's Church, Durban, St Martin in the Fields Church, Durban, St Martin's Church, Bergvliet, Cape Town, and two independent churches, His People Church, Glenwood, Durban, and Church on Main, Cape Town,” a statement by ACSA read.
ACSA launched an inquiry into the alleged illicit activity of Smyth after the diocese of Cape Town received a warning in 2013 from a bishop in the Church of England.
Makgoba stated that ACSA has not found any cases of abuse reported to the Anglican Church in SA to current leadership’s knowledge.
Information relevant to the terms of reference should be emailed by Friday December 20 to the Church's Provincial Executive Officer, at: peo@ anglicanchurchsa.org.za Information received will be treated in confidence. The Safe and Inclusive Church Commission (SAIC) has also urged those affected by abuse within the church to report it to [email protected]
Cape Times