This study focused on the ‘silence of the prophets’ in the post-apartheid era. It
sought to understand why the prophets, who spoke out so vehemently against
the injustices of apartheid, did not speak out against the injustices of the
government after 1994 even when it became blatantly apparent that corruption
was beginning to unfold on various levels, especially with the introduction of the
so-called Arms Deal. Accordingly, the study singles out Drs Allan Boesak and
Frank Chikane who were among the fiercest opponents of the apartheid regime
before 1994.
The study traced the impact of the ideological forces that influenced Boesak and
Chikane’s ideological thinking from the early Slave Religion, Black Theology in
the USA and Liberation Theology in Latin America. Black Theology and Black
Consciousness first made their appearance in South Africa in the 1970s, with
Boesak and Chikane, among others, as early advocates of these movements.
In 1983, Boesak and Chikane took part in the launch of the United Democratic
Front (UDF) in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town. This movement became the voice of
the voiceless in an era when the members of the African National Congress
(ANC) and Pan African Congress (PAC) had been sent into exile. It also signalled
a more inclusive and reconciliatory shift in Boesak and Chikane’s Ideological
thinking. Whereas Black Consciousness sought to exclude white people from
participating in the struggle for liberation, the UDF united all under one banner
without consideration for colour, race, religion or creed. After the advent of liberation in South Africa in 1994, it became increasingly
obvious that corruption was infiltrating many levels of the new government. But
the prophets were silent. Why were they silent?
The study presents an analysis of the possible reasons for this silence based on
interviews with Boesak and Chikane as role players and draws conclusions
based on their writings both before and after 1994. Overall, the study concluded
that they were silent because they had become part of the new political structures
that had taken over power.
To sum up, the study demonstrates the irony of prophetic oscillation and
concludes that no prophet is a prophet for all times. Thus, as a new democracy
unfolds in South Africa, the situation demands new prophets with a new
message. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Phil. (Theology)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/25907 |
| Date | 31 October 2019 |
| Creators | Morris, Allen William |
| Contributors | Modise, Leepo Johannes, Van Niekerk, E. |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (vii, 205 leaves), application/pdf |
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