Language as a Dividing Factor amongst the Reformed Churches in South Africa؛ A Case study of the Soutpansberg Synodi

Abstract

One of the pressing issues in present-day South Africa is reconciliation and unification of South Africans across the divides along racial lines that were created during apartheid. Although apartheid was abolished more than twenty years ago, ethnic divisions are still evident in many comers of our country. The recent uprisings and demonstrations by Venda and Tsonga people, who demanded a new municipality to replace the Thulamela municipality, is testimony amongst other things to the fact that no matter how people may tty to evade it, tribalism is still at work in the minds of some people. It is even more disturbing to observe that it is alongside these divisions that the church wants to witness to the world. A case study of the Soutpansberg Synod, in which the interactions between the Venda and Tsonga people were observable, will be the focus of this study. However, it is important not to isolate the church from the area in which it becomes a light, and so a brief look at the area in which the church is operating will be helpfill in providing the context of this study.