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SOUTHERN AFRICA: Bishop of Zululand, Monument Makhanya, steps down after sexual misconduct allegation
ACNS News
January 16, 2019
A bishop in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa has stepped down after being accused of sexual misconduct. The Sunday Times newspaper in Johannesburg reported at the weekend that Bishop Monument Makhanya has decided to stand down at the end of this month after a former Deacon in the diocese lodged a complaint of sexual misconduct against him. The Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, told the Anglican Communion News Service that he would seek the input of the province's Synod of Bishops in response to the resignation.
"I very much regret that someone appears to have relayed the content of Bishop Monument's ad clerum (a letter to his clergy) to the press", Archbishop Thabo said. "As I explained to the newspaper concerned, as soon as the complainant in this matter was willing to lodge a written statement, we followed our Province's guidelines for dealing with such allegations.
"Bishop Makhanya resigned during the process which followed, which is still ongoing. I have consulted with the Province's Safe Church Network and legal advisers and will seek the input of the next meeting of the Synod of Bishops on the way forward."
Bishop Monument was consecrated as the 14th Bishop of Zululand on 23 April 2016. Archbishop Thabo told The Sunday Times that he was "shocked and distressed" when he heard the allegation; and said that pastoral support is being provided to the complainant.
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