Makgoba describes report into Anglican church’s response to child abuse allegations as ‘scathing’
A panel headed by retired Judge Ian Farlam has found the Anglican church failed to disclose allegations of child abuse against John Smyth.
Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba (centre), at a media briefing on 5 February 2025. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/EWN
CAPE TOWN - The head of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa, Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, has described as scathing a report into the church's role in disclosing child abuse allegations against a church member.
A panel headed by retired Judge Ian Farlam has found the church failed to disclose allegations of child abuse against John Smyth.
He fled the UK and Zimbabwe in the 80s and 90s after being accused of child abuse.
Smyth came to Durban in 2001 and joined a Diocese of the Anglican church before coming to Cape Town where he died in 2018.
On Tuesday, the Archbishop responded to the panel's findings and was able to shed some more light on the matter.
Makgoba has acknowledged that the Anglican church should've informed leaders of non-Anglican churches about Smyth's child abuse allegations.
It's understood that Smyth joined another church after the Anglican Church's Bishop of Table Bay was notified of the allegations by the Church of England.
Archbishop Makgoba also acknowledged that during Smyth's time in Cape Town, people were at risk of potential abuse.
"I and the Diocese apologise to our congregants and the wider community that we did not protect people from that risk."
The Archbishop said systems and protocols would be put in place to protect congregants in the future.