Browsing by Author "Botha, Jaco"

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    Justice and the missional framework document of the Dutch Reformed Church
    (AOSIS Publishing, 2017) Botha, Jaco; Forster, Dion
    This article engages with the Missional Framework Document of the Dutch Reformed Church (DRC) from the perspectives of solidarity with the poor and justice for South African society. The democratic South Africa continues to face significant socio-economic problems and an increasingly dissatisfied population. In the light of this, the article presents an introductory conversation with the Missional Framework Document in order to ask whether it offers an adequate response to South Africa’s current contextual challenges. The lens through which this article will engage the Framework Document is the theological paradigm of justice, specifically the theory of justice presented by Nicholas Wolterstorff as well as some important contributions from contemporary South African scholars who advocate for a theology from the margins of society. It is contended that the DRC remains a predominantly white middle-class church. This social, economic and political location has an impact on the missional theology of the church as expressed in the Framework Document. Hence, we engage with the Missional Theology of the DRC by means of a paradigm that operates from the ‘underside’ or the economic, political and social ‘margins’ of South African society. We argue that any missional theology aimed at furthering God’s Kingdom in South Africa at present must develop in community with the marginalised majority of the nation. The critical engagement with the Framework Document will be done by sketching a theological landscape where current contextual realities are brought into relief against a kairos moment on which the efficacy of this church’s mission, indeed its public work and witness, is being called into question. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This interdisciplinary study in Systematic Theology and Ethics engages the missional theology found in the Missional Framework Document of the Dutch Reformed Church. Methodologically, the research advocates for a contextual engagement with the missional theology proposed by this important document. The outcome of this contextual theological consideration is an invitation for the Church to consider the ethics of justice as an important aspect of their approach to faithful Christian mission in the South African social, economic and political context.
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    Lessons from Mr. Noki : empire, structural violence and the Missio Dei
    (African Sun Media, 2020) Botha, Jaco
    On the 16th of August 2012, 34 mineworkers were killed by police in a conflict between Lonmin’s Marikana2 mine management and their workforce (Botha & Forster, 2017). The leader of the striking miners, Mgecineni Noki,3 died that day after advocating for basic increases and a more dignified life. This event has been likened to the Sharpeville4 of the new South Africa.5 The situation was a boiling pot consisting of a multinational company seeking best financial return at the expense of the dignity of mine workers, radicalised unions, militarised police and the misuse of political power, which resulted in violent and blatant murder as uncovered by the Farlam Commission6 (Botha & Forster, 2017). What preceded this event is a clear example of structural violence,7 and the subsequent strike was a reaction to this manifestation of violence. Mgecineni Noki’s life of struggle and his inhumane death have come to serve as a symbol for all those who have lost their lives in such conflicts, as well as those who are still held captive by an unjust social, political and economic system. This chapter does not aim to go into detail about Mr. Noki’s life, but use his social location as a lens to critique church8 engagement in issues of violence that undermine the dignity of the most vulnerable peoples.