An independent investigation has revealed the Anglican Church of Southern Africa's grave failures in protecting children from John Smyth, a known child abuser, leading to an official apology and commitment to new protective measures.
Anglican Church of Southern Africa Apologizes for Past Failings in Child Abuse Case
Anglican Church of Southern Africa Apologizes for Past Failings in Child Abuse Case
The Anglican Church takes responsibility after an independent review links John Smyth to potential risks for children in South Africa.
The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (Acsa) has issued an apology for its failure to protect children from the threats posed by John Smyth, a notorious British child abuser who relocated to South Africa in 2001. Smyth, who passed away in 2018, was revealed through prior investigations to have abused more than 100 children and young men in the UK and Zimbabwe during the 1970s and 1980s, often targeting victims at Christian camps he organized.
Following the release of an independent review last year, which led to the resignation of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, it was found that church leaders "could and should" have reported Smyth to authorities as early as 2013. The inquiry revealed that although there were no known abuse cases reported in South Africa, there existed a significant risk of similar incidents occurring.
Smyth had moved from England to Zimbabwe in 1984, shortly after damning reports of his abusive behavior were made, and his subsequent relocation to South Africa followed an investigation in Zimbabwe that was insufficiently communicated. An investigation led by Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, highlighted the high risk young children faced while Smyth was involved with the church in Durban, leading to a confirmation that the church's protective measures at that time were inadequate.
In 2013, the first warning regarding Smyth reached Acsa, yet the church's handling of this information before Smyth's death left much to be desired. The review indicates that by not adequately disseminating this alert, they failed to protect vulnerable youth from potential harm. Smyth's involvement with church activities in both Durban and later Cape Town exposed young members to severe risks.
Archbishop Makgoba has recognized and taken responsibility for these failures, promising to implement urgent steps to ensure that similar oversights do not occur again. This tragic case has prompted a broader discussion about safeguarding measures within the church to protect children and vulnerable individuals in the future.
