Playing politics with our lives
THE church is no infection specialist. Our president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has just abdicated his responsibility to unsuspecting pastors for the likely infections of up to 50 persons at a time, to counter the return to school and work.
Many of my colleagues, pastors and bishops will not appreciate me breaking rank and I must accept this.
President Ramaphosa has just invited church pastors, to, under strict conditions, resume responsibility for their congregants.
Rather than appreciate this as a move to respect the role of Christianity in public life, we have the responsibility to see this move as likely to divert focus and culpability from one elected man, his advisers and Cabinet, to others who are not infection specialists and are not resourced with public health supporting taxes to protect people and help them recover.
Despite the (predicted) spike (in infections), the president now makes this apparent concession, concealing culpability for many other weaknesses.
Already mining is adding to increased infections. Businesses and education may well do this in the near future.
I would not take that risk if I were a church pastor. The church is not an infection control specialist, nor can the church do anything to protect the faithful from asymptomatic persons.
I propose that churches take a good, hard look at trends in other sectors of society, asking the following questions: What is the carrier rate and risk of asymptomatic persons? Can masks and pre/post-service disinfection prevent the infection of church workers, volunteers and the faithful? Can pastors’ families, church workers and the faithful afford to self-isolate and monitor symptoms after every likely contact? Are the pastor and church board ready to the carry the burden of infections at their premises?
If not, I would advise a piloted approach. Rather than having 50, consider 10 people who can access private health and testing to come and observe for the 14-day window. Then gradually add others who may need public sector help.
PERCY MAKHOLWA | Founding Pastor
Ekklesia Et Corum Deo