Anglican Church of Southern Africa Issues Apology for Past Failures in Child Protection

Following an independent review, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa has issued an apology for failing to protect children from John Smyth, a British abuser who moved to South Africa in 2001. The Church recognizes the risk posed by Smyth and outlines steps to improve child protection measures.

The Anglican Church of Southern Africa (ACSA) has publicly apologized for its failures to safeguard children from John Smyth, a notorious British child abuser who relocated to South Africa in 2001. Smyth, who died in 2018 at 77, was responsible for the abuse of over 100 children and young men in the UK and Zimbabwe during the 1970s and 1980s.

The Church's acknowledgment follows a comprehensive independent review that highlighted the organization's inadequate response to warnings about Smyth's abusive past. Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, resigned last year amid significant criticism regarding the church's handling of the situation, which revealed that church leaders could have and should have reported Smyth's actions to the authorities as early as 2013.

After relocating with his family to Zimbabwe in 1984, Smyth’s activities went largely unnoticed despite earlier allegations of physical abuse. His eventual move to South Africa was prompted by an investigation into his conduct in Zimbabwe. While it was determined that no similar instances of abuse had been reported in South Africa, the investigation recognized that young members were exposed to a significant risk due to Smyth’s presence.

The investigative report indicated that during his time in South Africa, Smyth engaged in Anglican community activities in Durban and later in Cape Town, including involvement in confirmation classes with young children. He and his wife left their initial church community around 2003 after church leaders confronted him regarding allegations of abuse.

In 2013, a formal warning was sent to the church concerning Smyth's behavior from the Diocese of Ely in the UK, but it was noted that the Church’s communication of that warning was insufficient. While other clergy had prior knowledge of Smyth's abusive past, the report concluded that failures to inform the appropriate authorities further endangered the church’s congregants.

Archbishop Makgoba of Cape Town recognized the Church's serious lapses in protecting the public and has committed to implementing urgent changes to avoid any future risks. The review has produced a strong call to action for the church's leadership to enhance child protection measures, putting the safety of their congregation at the forefront of their operations.