Archbishop to write a book about Mandela

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba is writing a book about his ministries to Nelson Mandela in the last few years of his life. According to a statement released by NB publishers, who commissioned the book, it will detail the relationship that the church leader had with Mandela and give an account of his life. 

The book will be based mainly on the archbishop’s own experience but will also incorporate the experiences of others who ministered to him. He will invite the reader to join him on a personal journey, sharing his feelings and burdens as he prayed for Mandela and others holding political office. He will also reflect on how this ministry has influenced his thinking on the wider challenge of how to minister to his church and nation in the current era — one in which Mandela created a collegial struggle to better the lives of others.

Makgoba was born in 1960 and grew up in Alexandra Township, before being forcibly removed to Soweto with his family. There he was caught up in the political ferment after the Soweto youth uprising of 1976.

He was elected bishop suffragan of Grahamstown at the age of 41. At age 47, he was elected archbishop of Cape Town. He is arguably the most outspoken of the current generation of church leaders in South Africa, leading protests against corruption and abuse of power by the democratically elected leaders of the country.

Commissioning editor Gill Moodie says “Archbishop Makgoba is an influential and trusted voice in South African civil society, widely respected for his forthrightness and integrity. His account of his life and his reflections on Madiba’s spirituality and our country’s spiritual make-up will be fascinating and significant.”

The book will be published in 2017.