Religious

A brief description of the sector

The Religious Sector is represented by an extensive network of religious groups that include Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic and Jewish traditions.  Together the religious groups represent by far the largest networks for social, welfare and development work in South Africa.

The sector has far-reaching infrastructure in both urban and rural communities all over South Africa.  It has extensive membership – registered membership of only the Zionist Christian Church is estimated to exceed 15 million persons.  Membership is complimented by an array of experience and skills as religious networks have always been involved in social development and care for its communities.  The sector also has the capacity to reach its membership via direct personal contact on a weekly basis with messaging and services.

The collective response of the Religious Sector on HIV&AIDS is coordinated at a national level by the National Religious Association for Social Development (NRASD) and the Religious Sector HIV and AIDS Task Team (NRASD Advisory Forum on HIV&AIDS).

Contact details for the sector generally (a main point of contact)

Religious Sector HIV and AIDS Task Team
HIV and AIDS Advisory Forum
National Religious Association for Social Development (NRASD)
Tel.: 021-808-3292
Fax.: 021-808-4810
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.nrasd.org.za
Website: www.efsa-institute.org.za

Contact details, photo and bio for the sector spokesperson

Members of the Religious Sector HIV and AIDS Task Team

1. Charl Fredericks, EFSA Institute/ National Religious Association for Social Development (NRASD)
2. Sue Hedden, Director, Woza Moya Project, Buddhist Community
3. Revd Teboho Klaas, National Director, Health Programme, South African Council of Churches
4. Dr Renier Koegelenberg, EFSA Institute/ National Religious Association for Social Development (NRASD)
5. Revd Canon Desmond Lambrechts, Church of the Province of Southern Africa
6. Prof Welile Mazamisa, EFSA Institute/ National Religious Association for Social Development (NRASD)
7. Padigail Meskin, President, World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP) South Africa (Jewish Representative)
8. Pearl Moroasui, Connexional Coordinator for HIV and AIDS, Methodist Church of Southern Africa
9. Revd Sundani Mugivhi, Executive Director, Diakonia AIDS Ministry, Central Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa
10. Sr Alison Munro, Director, AIDS Office, Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Catholic Church in South Africa
11. Revd Vasco Seleoane, Africa Enterprise (African Independent Churches)
12. Sudesh Singh, Acting Vice-Chairperson, Hindu Coordinating Council of Gauteng
13. Raoul Swart, Director, Positive Muslims
14. Revd Elise Theunissen, Vice-President, Moravian Church in Southern Africa
15. Dr Willie van der Merwe, General Service Group: Service and Witness, General Synod, Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa

Electronic copies of resources

The various constituencies of the Religious Sector produce numerous booklets, pamphlets and articles for the broader community and particular specialist groups, at local, provincial and national levels.  The NRASD Office can be contacted for specific requests in this regard.

A breakdown of the organisations within your sector

The following list of organisations (religious constituencies) is not complete and could be complimented by listings of the various departments within these constituencies that focus on HIV and AIDS:

1. Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa
2. Assemblies of God South Africa
3. Baptist Convention
4. Catholic Church in South Africa (AIDS Office of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference)
5. Church of the Province of Southern Africa
6. Ebuhleni Nazareth Baptist Church (Shembe)
7. Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa (Diakonia AIDS Ministry)
8. Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa
9. EFSA Institute: Secretariat of the National Religious Association for Social Development (NRASD)
10. Ethiopian Episcopal Church
11. Evangelical Church in Southern Africa
12. Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa
13. Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Africa (Cape)
14. Hindu Coordinating Council of Gauteng
15. Jerusalem Church in South Africa
16. Limba Church
17. Methodist Church of Southern Africa
18. Moravian Church in Southern Africa
19. Muslim Judicial Council SA
20. Nan Hua Buddhist Temple
21. National Religious Association for Social Development (NRASD)
22. National Spiritual Assembly of Baha’is
23. Positive Muslims
24. Rhema Ministries
25. Rome St John’s Apostolic Church
26. Salvation Army
27. South African Council of Churches
28. The People of God Christian Ministries
29. The Twelve Apostles
30. Union of Orthodox Synagogues (Jewish)
31. United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
32. Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa
33. Uniting Reformed Church of Southern Africa
34. World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP) South Africa
35. Woza Moya Project, Buddhist Community
36. Zionist Christian Church

Details of news/information outlets relevant to your sector sites, list services, gazettes etc that we should be monitoring

Website: www.nrasd.org.za
Website: www.efsa-institute.org.za
The various constituencies of the Religious Sector will have particular information outlets.  The NRASD Office can be contacted for specific requests in this regard.