Scrap nuclear and fund education, Archbishop tells government

ROBBEN ISLAND, South Africa - Sept. 22, 2016 - PRLog -- Speaking at the launch of a series of intergenerational dialogues on Robben Island, the Archbishop had a blunt message about the education crisis: "We need to act now. We cannot wait any longer. In 1956, the apartheid government closed our quality secondary schools. If we don't act now in terms of universities, in a decade's time, it will be said that this generation closed down our universities and added them to the ghost institutions of Africa."

Delivering the opening address of the dialogues, the Archbishop quoted energy experts who have said there is no rational need for nuclear power in South Africa.

He also repeated warnings that a nuclear deal would increase South Africa's debt burden from nearly R2-trillion to R3-trillion – an increase of nearly 50%

"We simply cannot afford that. Anyone who runs a household knows that you can't increase your household debt by half and think that you will cope. Why can't our government understand this simple equation? If we go the nuclear route, there is no way we will solve the education crisis, either now or in the future," he added.

The Archbishop said that South Africa was at a crossroads and referred to the famous "winds of change" speech made in 1960 by Harold Macmillan to the apartheid parliament: "We are today at a crossroads in our country. The winds of change are blowing again. In the more than twenty years since our democratic elections, some have become complacent, and no longer feel the wind.

"We have allowed a morally bankrupt leadership to entrench itself. We have turned a blind eye to the desperation of vulnerable, poverty-stricken people.

"Some have become stinking rich while others still grind out a daily existence in shacks without the most basic facilities. Our students have been driven to the edge of anarchy in their struggle to get affordable education. Make no mistake, that wind is blowing again," he said.

The Archbishop called on young people to bring their energy and creativity to bear in tackling some of South Africa's biggest challenges.

"We need your energy, intellect and creativity. We need your ability to think of things in a different way. It is this kind of energy that we are looking for in South Africa today," he told the audience, an estimated 70% of which was under the age of 30.

Ends

Note: Archbishop Emeritus Njongonkulu Ndungane is the former Archbishop of Cape Town. He held this office as head of the Anglican Church in South Africa for 11 years from Septembe r 1996 to September 2007 when he retired. He is currently the Executive Director of the Historic Schools Restoration Project (an initiative to restore the historic schools of South Africa) and President of African Monitor (an independent continent-wide organisation that monitors the development of grassroots communities).