PLANNING A BOOK: Archbishop Thabo Makgoba
NB Publishers has signed Makgoba, who is currently penning the memoir. “The book will comprise both an account of Thabo Makgoba’s life and his ministry, including to Nelson Mandela.
The account It will be based mainly on the archbishop's own experiences but will also incorporate the experiences of others who ministered to him,” the publishers said in a statement.In the book, Makgoba “will invite the reader to join him on a personal journey, sharing his feelings and burdens as he prayed for Nelson Mandela and others holding political office”.He will also reflect on how his thinking on the wider challenge of how to minister to his church and nation in the current era was influenced by this ministry.
Makgoba was born in 1960 and grew up in Alexandra, before being forcibly removed to Soweto with his family. Thereafter he was caught up in the political turmoil after the Soweto youth uprising of 1976. He was appointed to St Mary’s Cathedral in Joburg after he studied towards a BSc, then a BA (honours) in applied psychology and an MEd in educational psychology, before going on to serve in a number of serving other parishes.
Makgoba was then elected Bishop Suffragan of Grahamstown before becoming 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 the abuse of power by the democratically elected leaders of the country,” said the statement.
Commissioning editor Gill Moodie added: “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.”