scholarly journals Die konsep van gelykheid in die lig van die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet (1996) en die Skrif

2003 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Vorster
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Gender Discrimination ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Theoretical Argument ◽  
The South ◽  
Ethical Content ◽  
Role Of Women ◽  
South African Constitution ◽  
The Church

Equality in the light of the 1996 South African Constitution and Scripture In the debate on the role of women in the church the principle of equality (especially gender equality) is of particular importance. Churches and theologians are confronted by a twofold question, that is: • Does Scripture support gender inequality as a consequence of the patriarchal context in which it originated? • Are churches that prevent women from serving in the offices not guilty of gender discrimination? Before these questions can be answered theologians should clarify the concept of equality. The aim of this article is to compare the biblical concept of equality with the ethical content with which the Constitutional Court imbues the South African constitutional value of equality. The central theoretical argument of this article is that there is a fundamental difference in content between the biblical concept of equality and the South African constitutional value of equality. The main differences in content between the two concepts of equality will be highligted by way of comparison. After the comparison of these concepts, a few observations will be made which are relevant for the debate on the role of women in the church.

scholarly journals Feminist interpretation in the context of reformational theology: a consideration

2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Nunes ◽  
H. J.M. Van Deventer
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Biblical Interpretation ◽  
Feminist Perspective ◽  
The South ◽  
Feminist Interpretation ◽  
Role Of Women ◽  
The Church

This article explores the contribution that Biblical interpretation from a feminist perspective may make in the context of refor- mational theology. After an overview of the diverse nature of feminist Biblical interpretation that in itself stems from specific developments in hermeneutics, this article explores the contri- butions made by two prominent scholars in this field, namely Schüssler-Fiorenza and Trible. These contributions are then brought to bear on the South African situation and the debate on the role of women in the church. A suggestion is made as to the contribution that the work of Schüssler-Fiorenza and Trible can make in this context.

scholarly journals Kerk en owerheid binne ’n regstaat. Die profetiese roeping van die kerk met betrekking tot die Suid-Afrikaanse owerheid

2000 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Vorster ◽  
J.H. Van Wyk
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Fundamental Rights ◽  
Theoretical Argument ◽  
The South ◽  
African Government ◽  
Constitutional State ◽  
African Context ◽  
The Government ◽  
Just Society ◽  
The Church

Church and government within a constitutional state. The prophetic calling of the church towards the South-African government With the transition to a new political dispensation in South Africa, a constitutional state has been established. A typical characteristic of this new dispensation is that the government remains neutral while the executive powers are subject to the Bill of Human Rights. The question of how the church can realize its prophetic task towards the government within the context of a constitutional state is highlighted in this article. The central theoretical argument is that a constitutional state that acknowledges fundamental rights provides an excellent opportunity for the church to fulfil its prophetic calling within the South African context. The church can contribute to a just society by prophetic testimony within the perspective of the kingdom of God.

Equality and Non-Discrimination in the South African Constitution

2000 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-71
Author(s):  
Joan Small ◽  
Evadne Grant
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Human Dignity ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Bill Of Rights ◽  
The South ◽  
Legal Effect ◽  
The Law ◽  
South African Constitution

Equality occupies the first place in most written constitutions, but in South Africa, its importance is magnified both in terms of the text of the Constitution and in terms of the context in which that Constitution operates. The Bill of Rights is expected, in South Africa, to help bring about the transformation of the society. These expectations of transformation through the operation of the Bill of Rights are informing the development of the law in relation to equality and non-discrimination by the Constitutional Court. The concept of discrimination is uniquely defined in the South African Bill of Rights. The Courts are struggling to give legal effect to the terminology. The test developed by the Court to interpret the equality clause, it is submitted, is comprehensive and informed. But the application of the test is sometimes problematic. This paper addresses the evolving concepts of equality and discrimination in South Africa and discusses some of the difficulties with certain aspects of the test for discrimination, including the concepts of unfairness and human dignity, which have caused division among the judiciary.

The Human Right to Water in South Africa and the Mazibuko Decisions

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 521-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracy Humby ◽  
Maryse Grandbois
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
The South ◽  
Human Right ◽  
Lower Courts ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
South African Constitution ◽  
The Right ◽  
Right Of Access

The right of access to sufficient water in the South African Constitution has for long been regarded as progressive in a global context where the human right to water is still a subject of contention. In its recent decision handed down in the Mazibuko matter, the South African Constitutional Court interpreted the right of access to sufficient water for the first time and clarified the nature of the State’s obligations which flow from this right. It also commented upon the role of the courts in adjudicating the human right to water. This article describes the passage of the Mazibuko matter and the manner in which the lower courts interpreted the right of access to “sufficient water” as well as outlining the Constitutional Court’s decision in the context of access to water services provision in South Africa.

scholarly journals Whatever happened to God’s holiness? The holiness of God and the theological authenticity of the South African neo-Pentecostal prophetic activities

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Collium Banda
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
The South ◽  
Human Needs ◽  
Theological Perspective ◽  
Doctrine Of The Church ◽  
The Church

The controversial activities of the neo-Pentecostal prophets (NPPs) in South Africa raise many theological questions. From a systematic theological perspective that affirms the importance of Christian doctrines in regulating church worship and practice, this article uses God’s holiness to evaluate the theological authenticity of the NPPs’ controversial activities. The research question answered in the article is: how can an understanding of the holiness of God empower Christian believers to respond meaningfully to the controversial practices? The article begins by describing the theoretical framework of God’s holiness. This is followed by describing the NPPs’ shift from prophecy focusing on holiness to one focused on human needs. Furthermore, this shift among the NPPs from holiness to human needs is attributed to celebrity cultism through which the prophets thrust themselves as powerful figures who are able to solve people’s problems. Afterward an analysis is made of how the holiness of God is violated by the NPPs’ controversial practices. Finally, some steps are suggested for NPPs and their followers to take to align their activities with God’s holiness. The contribution of the article lies in highlighting the importance of God’s holiness as a standard of measuring the Christian authenticity of the controversial activities of the NPPs in South Africa.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article uses insights from the doctrine of God’s holiness, the role of biblical prophecy and the doctrine of the church, to critique the controversial activities of the NPPs in South Africa.

scholarly journals Book Review of Socio-Economic Rights: Adjudication under a Transformative Constitution by Sandra Liebenberg

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sital Kalantry ◽  
Elizabeth Brundige
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
South African ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
The South ◽  
Economic Rights ◽  
Economic Relationships ◽  
Socioeconomic Rights ◽  
South African Constitution

The South African Constitution is heralded for the broad protections it affords social and economic rights. In Socio-Economic Rights: Adjudication under a Transformative Constitution, Professor Sandra Liebenberg offers a thoughtful examination of the socioeconomic rights jurisprudence developed by South African courts since the adoption of the country’s current constitution fifteen years ago. In meticulous detail, she describes how the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court and other South African courts has evolved in the area of socioeconomic rights. At the same time, she offers an incisive critique of this jurisprudence, identifying how it has too often been shaped by a narrow and formalistic conception of rights that overlooks their social justice purposes and reinforces deeply unequal social and economic relationships. Finally, Liebenberg offers suggestions for the future development of this jurisprudence in ways that would be more consonant with the transformative purposes of the South African Constitution.Published: Book Review of Socio-Economic Rights: Adjudication under a Transformative Constitution by Sandra Liebenberg, 34 Human Rights Quarterly 579 (2012) (with Elizabeth Brundige).

scholarly journals Where is the church on Monday? Awakening the church to the theology and practice of ministry and mission in the marketplace

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dion A. Forster ◽  
Johann W. Oosterbrink
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Missio Dei ◽  
The South ◽  
Theology Of Work ◽  
The World ◽  
Missional Theology ◽  
The Church

Recent research by the Call42 group has shown that South African Christians experience that they are not adequately prepared or equipped for Christian living and discipleship in the world of work – here called the marketplace. This article has argued for the importance of a rediscovery of a theology of work that can empower and equip the church and individual Christians for ministry in the marketplace. The article traces why such a theological deficiency exists in the South African church by considering areas such as an inadequate theology of work and mission, a dualism between faith and work, and an unbalanced emphasis on the role of clergy and a lesser focus on the role of the laity in themissio Dei. Having considered these challenges to the mission and theological identity of the church, the article discusses the three general theological views of the church in South Africa as presented by Smit and adapted by Forster. It considers how the church could become an agent of mission and transformation in the marketplace in each of these three forms. The article comes to the conclusion that the church will need to revisit its missional theology, refocuses its efforts on broader society, and empowers and equips its members for ministry in the marketplace in order to be faithful in partnering with God in the missio Dei.Waar is die kerk op Maandag? Ontwaking van die kerk tot die teologie en praktyk vanbediening en sending in die markplein. Onlangse navorsing deur die Call42 groep het bevind dat Suid-Afrikaanse Christene ervaar dat hulle nie voldoende voorbereid en toegerus is vir die Christelike lewe en dissipelskap in die arbeidsmark - hier genoem die markplein – nie. Hierdie artikel poog om aan te toon dat ’n herontdekking van ’n teologie van werk belangrik is ten einde die kerk in die algemeen asook individuele Christene te bemagtig en toe te rus vir die bediening in die markplein. Hierdie artikel poog dus om die kwessie van die sodanige teologiese leemte in die Suid-Afrikaanse kerk na te vors. Terreine soos onvoldoende teologie van werk en sending word ondersoek, ’n dualisme tussen geloof en werk word uitgewys, en daar word aangetoon dat ’n oorspeling van die predikant se rol en ’n onderspeling van gewone kerklidmate se rol die kerk se betrokkenheid by die missio Dei benadeel. Met inagneming van hierdie uitdagings aan sending en die kerk se teologiese identiteit, bespreek die artikel drie algemene teologiese standpunte van die kerk in Suid Afrika, soos deur Smit aangebied en deur Forster aangepas. Die artikel besin hoe die kerk in elk van hierdie drie bestaansvorme ’n agent van sending en transformasie in die markplein kan wees. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat die kerk die missionale of sendingteologie moet heroorweeg, opnuut moet fokus op die uitreik na die breër gemeenskap en lidmate vir bediening in die markplein moet bemagtig en toerus. Sodoende sal die kerk getrou wees aan die medewerking met God in die missio Dei.

A New Beginning: Introducing the South African Constitution and Bill of Rights

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-65
Author(s):  
Rassie Malherbe
Keyword(s):  
South African ◽  
Bill Of Rights ◽  
The South ◽  
South African Society ◽  
The Road ◽  
Independent Judiciary ◽  
New Beginning ◽  
On The Road ◽  
South African Constitution

Few would argue that the democratisation of South Africa is one of the most fascinating examples of constitutional engineering during the latter half of the 20th century. This article recounts the negotiating process leading up to the adoption of the Constitution of 1996, and highlights the main features of the Constitution. The features discussed are majority government, the principle of constitutional supremacy, the content and application of the Bill of Rights – with some emphasis on its impact so far on social change –, the role of the independent judiciary, the principle of co-operative government which governs the relationship between the three spheres of government, and the ways in which the diversity prevalent in the South African society has been accommodated. Some comments are also made on the necessity for the creation of a human rights culture to support the new Constitution. The article concludes with the remark that, although serious obstacles remain, a solid start has been made on the road to a constitutional democracy with justice for all.

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