Justice & Peace Want Your Stories!

by Erin Carelse · March 12, 2018

The Justice and Peace Commission of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference has prepared a discussion guide parishes can use to have a conversation on race and economic inequality, with the aim of collecting stories and publishing them.

The guide offers ordinary South Africans the chance to share their experiences and views of affirmative action, the land reform programme, and education/health reforms.

These will be collated into a book and, with other material, used as an advocacy tool to challenge the government to do more about racism and economic inequality.

The guide covers six themes:

Inequality in land ownership

Was your family a victim of forced removals; your experiences (positive and negative) as a mineworker or farmworker during apartheid; your experiences of corruption regarding access to land.

Inequality in education and health services

Your experiences about difficulties accessing health services during apartheid; young people dropping out of school (primary and high) during apartheid; difficulties in access to university studies during apartheid; your experiences as parents regarding fees for high school and university during apartheid.

Inequality in accessing jobs

How has the ANC government’s affirmative action programme affected you and your family; during apartheid, what were your and your family’s experiences about difficulties in getting a job; what are your experiences of corruption in relation to access to job opportunities.

Experience of racism in the workplace and at school

Your personal experiences of racial prejudice; negative stereotyping of people belonging to particular races/ethnic groups/nationalities; racist remarks, jokes and comments (both overt and covert); treatment of people belonging to particular groups as outsiders.

Experience of racism within the Church

In your parish and diocese, your personal experiences of prejudice and fear of people belonging to particular groups; treatment of people belonging to such groups as outsiders; privileges and opportunities made available only to people of one group; gossiping and negative stereotyping directed against people of particular groups.

Experience of racism in schools/universities

Your personal experiences of racial prejudice and fear of people belonging to a particular group; negative stereotyping of such people; racist remarks, jokes, and comments (both overt and covert).

Parishes or parish groups are encouraged to do theme 5 on racism within the Church. Catholic schools and ACTS branches are encouraged to do theme 6 on racism in schools and universities.

Stories shared at these discussions, and stories in your personal capacity, can be sent to fax 012 326 6218, e-mail For the full guide, and with help implementing it in your parish, please contact Fr Paul Tatu on