The All Africa Conference of Churches has conferred its Human Rights Award on Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town for speaking out against an economy that remains discriminatory in South Africa.

The AACC, conferred the award on the Anglican leader at the Nov. 18-23, 12th general assembly in Abuja, Nigeria, this week.

It praised Makgoba in particular for his advocacy of the interests of the poor in South Africa which was once infamous for its apartheid ideology which discriminated against the black majority in the country..

Makgoba, who is quiet-spoken, was a young man following the now deceased Desmond Tutu as the leader of southern African Anglicans, and is seen by many as having some of the former Nobel Peace Prize winner's traits.

'DEEPLY DIVIDED SOCIETY'

"Although South Africa has a sound Constitution and a relatively well-developed economy, it remains a deeply divided society, wherein a high proportion of the country's income is earned by a few and a small proportion is earned by the vast majority," the citation for the award said.                                                      

The AACC is a continental ecumenical body that encapsulates more than 200 million Christians across the African continent.

The grouping is the biggest association of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, and Indigenous churches in Africa, and a member of the worldwide ecumenical network.

As an ecumenical body, AACC is a fellowship of 210 members comprising of Churches, National Christian Councils, theological and lay training institutions, and other Christian organizations in 43 African countries.

"Although South Africa has a sound Constitution and a relatively well-developed economy, it remains a deeply divided society, wherein a high proportion of the country's income is earned by a few and a small proportion is earned by the vast majority," the citation for the award said.

The AACC noted that in the tradition of outspoken church leaders who campaigned against apartheid, Makgoba "chose to speak out and advocate publicly against an economy in which wealth is passed on from generation to generation, while the poor are excluded from the benefits of the economy."

It also cited Archbishop Makgoba's "walks of witness" with other religious leaders to areas in which people are suffering, and his marches with other faith leaders against corruption.

It noted that Makgoba experienced animosity from political leaders who told church leaders to keep religion out of politics.

The citation said he addressed this "by rejecting the worldview of distinguishing between religion and politics, and adopting the African worldview, which he thinks teaches that God is the God of all life, religious or political."

In his acceptance speech, Makgoba quoted himself in an interview saying that at the heart of the church's advocacy of Democracy, Human Rights, Good Governance and the Rule of Law is our care for God's people.

That includes their welfare, safety and inclusion in the kind of economic and social development which will ensure the abundant life which Jesus promises them.

"For me, my public ministry over the years has centred on carrying out walks of witness, and working within a prophetic theological framework which I call the new struggle," said Makgoba.