Cape Town - After Archbishop Thabo Makgoba appointed a three-person panel to review the handling by the Anglican Church of South Africa (ACSA) of reports of abuse carried out by the former British lawyer, and camp master, John Smyth, he has now called for input from any member of the public who has information relevant to its inquiries.
In a statement shared with the media, the Anglican Church of South Africa said following the announcement, one of the tasks was to establish if any reports or complaints are recorded as received by ACSA regarding membership by Smyth of ACSA .
This is also to establish his activities in South Africa, and if so, what was done by ACSA in response to reports or complaints.
Three weeks ago, the Church said they would be launching an inquiry into the alleged abuse by lay minister and camp master, Smyth.
The panel consists of Dr Mamphela Ramphele, the South African civil society leader, Advocate Jeremy Gauntlett SC KC, a barrister who practises in South Africa and Britain, and Judge Ian Farlam, a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
The Anglican Church said no cases of abuse by Smyth in South Africa were reported to the knowledge of their current leadership.
The scandal was blown open last month, following the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby after the Makin Review revealed an entrenched cover-up of abuse by Smyth, while in the UK.
He had also lived in Cape Town and worshipped at St Martin’s in Bergvliet.
At least 85 boys were believed to have been Smyth’s victims in various countries.
The Makin Review called for a full independent review of Smyth’s activities in Zimbabwe and South Africa.
In the ACSA’s latest statement, they added the panel would investigate allegations if the said reports or allegations were received and if there were any failures in their duty.
“The panel further noted that its tasks included whether, if any such reports or complaints were made to ACSA, ACSA failed in any duty to convey such reports or complaints to any appropriate authority,” the ACSA said.
Given some research, they said Smyth had been part of the congregation of the church in the Western Cape and Durban.
“Information received by ACSA , supplemented by the report into Smyth's activities commissioned by the Church of England, indicates that during his time in South Africa, Smyth attended St Paul's Church, Durban, St Martin in the Fields Church, Durban, St Martin's Church, Bergvliet, Cape Town, and two independent churches, His People Church, Glenwood, Durban, and Church on Main, Cape Town,” they detailed.
Terms of reference includes to consider the findings and implications of the Makin Report (dated 18 October 2024) regarding the Church of England notifying ACSA in 2013, or at any other time, of, allegations of abuse by Smyth committed in the United Kingdom or Zimbabwe, that Smyth had become resident in South Africa.
“Also to establish if any reports or complaints are recorded as received by ACSA regarding membership by Mr John Smyth of the church and his activities in South Africa, and if so, what was done by in response to any such reports or complaints.
“And to establish whether, if any such reports or complaints were made to ACSA, if the church failed in any duty to convey such reports or complaints to any appropriate authority - and to report on measures adopted by ACSA relating to Safe and Inclusive Church, and to make any recommendations arising from the above.”
The ACSA said information received will be treated with confidentiality and should be emailed by Friday December 20th the Church's Provincial Executive Officer, at: [email protected]