Tag Archives: Government

Illegal Immigration: Is it ever right to do wrong?

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–– Mark Christopher

Audio version of this article available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

The issue of illegal immigration is a persistent problem affecting many nations around the world at the present moment. South Africa has long been impacted by an unknown number of illegal aliens from neighbouring countries. Most of these are understandably seeking a better life. The estimates on the number of illegal immigrants in South Africa range from 5 to 10 million people. 

This large influx of people has led to periodic episodes of xenophobic violence as some South Africans feel threatened by those they consider stealing their jobs and opportunities for a better life. Violence against those who have illegally entered South Africa’s borders only exacerbates the problem without offering a positive corrective.

The question before every blood-bought believer in Christ is how should Christians biblically view illegal immigration and immigrants.

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A Guide to Government and Godliness

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–– Jonathan Klimek

Audio version of this article available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

A Guide to Government and Godliness

This year in South Africa the National Elections will take place on the 29th of May. You may ask: “How does God view elections? Should we vote? Which party do we choose—the “lesser of many evils”? 

It is important that we as Christians consider our role within the political sphere of our Country. Our faith is not confined to the pews of our church; rather, it should infiltrate every facet of our lives, including our engagement with our Country and its politics.

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When an Evil Nation Does Right

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–– Paul Schlehlein

Audio version of this article available here: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Zimbabwe and King Manasseh

In February of 2024, the Government of Zimbabwe sent out a press statement strongly rejecting the efforts that foreign nations have made to ensnare its citizens into homosexual behaviour through the offers of educational scholarships.

Like other African nations such as Uganda, Zimbabwe firmly condemns Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender activities. Zimbabwe opposes the viewpoint of several neighbouring countries, namely South Africa and Mozambique, both of which promote significant LGBT protections.

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Is Cash Really King?

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–– Mark Christopher

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Recently as I returned from a bike ride with my cycling mate, we stopped at a new café that recently opened for a cup of coffee and some stimulating conversation. When it came time to pay the bill, much to our surprise, the waitress announced that they were a cashless business. While we both carry a bit of cash for such an occasion, neither of us had a bank card with us. Fortunately, the establishment in question accommodated us. Not two weeks later Woolworths publicly announced that their coffee shops, attached to their stores, were going cashless. 

Whether we like it or not, technology is moving us to a more cashless society. The Payments Association of South Africa is currently implementing strategies to make South Africa cashless by 2030. It remains to be seen if such an ambitious goal is reached in such a short time. The justification for this move toward a cashless culture is that it is much safer for all concerned and it is less expensive for businesses if they do not handle cash. The banking sector certainly agrees with this. But while there is a great deal of truth in such rationale, there are numerous pitfalls to a cashless society. Here are but a few challenges in this rush to a cashless destination:

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The Battle for Bible-Based Education

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–– Gideon Mpeni

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Parental authority in training and bringing up their children has faced attacks in most parts of the Western world, yet we are now beginning to see this tidal wave on the family hitting the shores of Africa. The recent developments in Sub-Saharan Africa, rise from the famously named ‘mother city’, Cape Town, South Africa. 

On the 26th of September, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education in the South African Parliament  adopted the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill, otherwise known as the BELA Bill, in which parents can face 12-month jail sentences if their children of school age are not enrolled. This bill also introduces a ban on corporal punishment. These are not mere attempts to cater for the well-being of the children but rather rules aimed at controlling the parents and stripping them of their God-given responsibilities.

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Death Penalty Disappearing in Africa

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–– David de Bruyn

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In July of 2023, Ghana’s parliament voted to abolish the death penalty. Africa still has 30 countries that have the death sentence in their legal system, though it is rarely used in over half of these. Fourteen countries in Africa regularly use the death penalty: Nigeria, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Somalia, Uganda, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Egypt, and Libya. In 26 African countries, capital punishment has been removed from the law books. 

Amnesty International reported that in sub-Saharan countries, there has been a 67% drop in capital punishment in the last three years. Egypt remains the leading practitioner of capital punishment in Africa.

Modern secular political wisdom asserts that the death penalty is a barbaric relic from the past. This wisdom believes in something known as rehabilitationism. In this scheme, justice primarily seeks to reform, not punish. Since the death penalty does not reform anyone, proponents of this theory assert that it should be abolished. 

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“Let us Live and Strive for Freedom”

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–– Tim Cantrell

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Right now in South Africa is one of those rare moments of national unity where black and white, rich and poor are all sporting their Springbok colours as we cheer on our rugby team’s heroic attempt at another world cup.

When we begin each game singing our national anthem (originally a Xhosa Christian revival hymn), it climaxes with that rallying cry: “Let us live and strive for freedom in South Africa, our land!” But where does human freedom even come from in the first place? Many believe freedom originates in the state or superpower nations or must be delivered by dictators, coups, or liberators.

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TARIF: The Broken Window Fallacy in Africa

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The Africa Review in Five highlights African current affairs from a Christian perspective. Listen and subscribe through Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Today is Tuesday, August 22nd, A.D. 2023. This is The Africa Review in Five, written by Paul Schlehlein and presented by Yamikani Katunga.

The Broken Window Fallacy in Africa

South Africa is 5th in the worldwide Crime Index. Somalia is #12, Nigeria is #14, with three more African countries filling out the top 20. But is this really bad news? Perhaps there’s a silver lining. Doesn’t crime create jobs?

If there was less crime, security guards would lose their jobs. Without significant theft, steel manufacturers and welders would have no work because citizens would have no need for burglar bars on their doors and windows. The profits of businesses that sell razor wire, security cameras, stun guns, and padlocks would plummet. Brick masons who build security walls would lose their livelihoods. Couldn’t we then say that crime is beneficial at least in creating jobs? Couldn’t we say crime brings financial good to a country?

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TARIF: Namibia Gets It Right on Same-Sex Marriage

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The Africa Review in Five highlights African current affairs from a Christian perspective.
Listen and subscribe through Youtube, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Today is Friday, July 21st, A.D. 2023. This is The Africa Review in Five, written by Paul Schlehlein and presented by Yamikani Katunga.

Namibia Gets It Right on Same-Sex Marriage

On Wednesday, July 19th, Namibia’s upper house of parliament passed a law banning same-sex marriage. This law defines marriage as a union between “persons of opposite sexes”. One member of parliament, Elder Filipe, said that “the marital union is between a man and a woman and that must be respected.”

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