Southern Africa

Main languages spoken: Afrikaans, Zulu, Siswati, English

USPG & Southern Africa

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa is comprised of South Africa (as well as the islands of St. Helena and Tristan da Cunha), Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini. USPG accompanies the Church in leadership, theological education, and Church and Community mobilisation in Eswatini and Zululand.

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) is the oldest self-governing Anglican Church in Africa. Military chaplains came in alongside British troops in 1795. The Revd William Wright, the first SPG missionary, arrived in 1821 and opened a church and school in Cape Town. Initially South Africa was part of the enormous Diocese of Calcutta, remaining until 1847 when Robert Gray was consecrated as the first Bishop of Cape Town. The province was formed in 1870.

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa worked actively to end the system of apartheid in South Africa, led tirelessly by the late Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. USPG is also a long-term supporter of the College of the Transfiguration in its effort to build the capacity of the Church through the training and education of leaders.

Food Gardens and Resilience

Many in Zululand face huge food insecurity challenges that threaten day-to-day survival. While the land is fertile, the lack of resources and infrastructure has left many unable to feed their families or sustain their livelihoods.

The local diocese is responding by providing training as well as irrigation systems to ensure that gardens receive adequate water, crucial for sustaining crops through dry seasons; fencing around community gardens to protect crops from livestock and theft; and agricultural tools and seeds to help farmers cultivate their land more effectively and increase yields.

Theological Education

A USPG summit on ‘The Future of Theological Education in Africa’ addressed various challenges, including funding for theological education, curriculum decolonisation, delivery methods, and governance and sustainability models. From this emerged the Theological Executive Leadership Programme, a 12-week course for leaders from theological education institutions across the Anglican provinces in Africa. The programme is in collaboration with the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Exchanging Places

People, and the movement of people in mission, continues to be at the heart of USPG’s work. Currently The Revd Thanduxolo Noketshe and his family have swapped the Diocese of Port Elizabeth, Anglican Church of Southern Africa for the Diocese of Northeastern Caribbean and Aruba, Church of the Province of the West Indies as part of our Exchanging Places programme.

Find out More

USPG attends Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) Synod

The General Secretary of USPG, The Revd Dr Duncan Dormor, accompanied by Fran Mate, Senior Regional Manager - Africa, shared greetings and updates with the 37th Session of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa Provincial Synod held from 25 – 27 September 2024 in Benoni, Gauteng, South Africa. The theme was – “Flourishing like a garden: Listening, reconciling and celebrating God’s new creation”. Also in attendance was the Anglican Communion General Secretary The Rt Revd Anthony Poggo.

Theological Executive Leadership Programme Launch

TELP is USPG’s new Theological Executive Leadership Programme, a paradigm-shifting leadership initiative equipping 15 nominated leaders from theological education institutions, across the Anglican provinces in Africa. It is a 12-week course comprising online classes and two one-week residentials at the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. The course will run from August to November 2024.

USPG host inaugural Desmond Tutu Annual Memorial Lecture at York Minster

On Tuesday 17 September, The Revd Nontombi Tutu, Episcopal priest and human rights activist and daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu led the inaugural Desmond Tutu Annual Memorial Lecture at York Minster.

An Interview with The Revd Nontombi Tutu

Episcopal priest, human rights activist, and the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The Revd Nontombi joined us at York Minster to deliver the inaugural Desmond Tutu Annual Memorial Lecture. In this interview, she shares insights into her lecture, entitled ‘Truth: The Path to Reconciliation.’