South African Anglican Church Apologizes for Failing to Protect Children from British Abuser

Share

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) has issued a formal apology for failing to shield the public from the dangers posed by John Smyth, a British child abuser who moved to South Africa in 2001. Smyth, who died in 2018 at the age of 77, was responsible for abusing over 100 children and young men in the UK and Zimbabwe during the 1970s and 1980s. His crimes first came to light in private reports, but the failure to act swiftly allowed him to continue working within Christian communities across different countries.

Smyth, a senior barrister and devout Christian, gained access to his victims through church-affiliated camps he organized. After facing allegations in the UK, he relocated to Zimbabwe in 1984, where further accusations surfaced. However, investigations into his conduct were not widely publicized. He later moved to South Africa in 2001, where he continued his involvement in church activities.

An independent inquiry commissioned by the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, found that while no official records of abuse exist from his time in South Africa, there was a “very high risk” that similar incidents could have taken place. The report also highlighted the Church’s failure to properly communicate warnings about Smyth between 2013—when concerns were formally raised by the Diocese of Ely in the UK—and his death in 2018.

The investigation revealed that while the Church had no prior knowledge of Smyth’s abusive history before 2013, the way it handled the subsequent warnings was inadequate. He was able to join Anglican communities in Durban and Cape Town, where he participated in confirmation classes and occasionally preached—positions that placed him in direct contact with young members.

Church leaders in Durban confronted Smyth about his past at some point in 2003 or 2004, prompting him and his wife to abruptly leave the community. However, no further action was taken, and the couple later joined another Anglican church in Cape Town before moving to the independent Church-on-Main. They eventually returned to an Anglican congregation shortly before his death in 2018.

The report also noted that two bishops—Garth Counsell and Peter Lee—received information about Smyth’s abusive history but failed to inform authorities at Church-on-Main. While they were not found guilty of misconduct, the report emphasized that their inaction contributed to the continued risk of harm.

Archbishop Makgoba publicly accepted responsibility for the Church’s failure to protect its congregants and the broader community from Smyth’s potential abuse. In a statement on Tuesday, he expressed deep regret and outlined several urgent measures that he would propose to the Church’s leadership to prevent similar lapses in the future.

The case has reignited discussions about how institutions handle allegations of abuse and the need for greater transparency and accountability in religious organizations. While no confirmed cases of abuse by Smyth in South Africa have been reported, the Church’s admission highlights the ongoing challenges in safeguarding vulnerable individuals within faith-based communities.

Read more

Local News