Contaminated history in Stellenbosch

A New Reading of the Accra Confession

On behalf of the Protestant Theological University (PThU), Dorottya Nagy presented a new reading of the Accra Confession, a confession against economic and other forms of inequality. She pointed out the unresolved duality of church statements drafted in air-conditioned, secured hotels in African cities, while many people must do low-paid, hard labour to make this possible.

Land in the South African Context

The PThU research team on Land was well-represented, with contributions from six researchers, two of whom participated online. Each time a researcher presented, they were questioned by Marileen Steyn, a postdoctoral researcher at our university and originally from South Africa. In this way, the contributions on Land were consistently connected to the South African context.

Mirella Klomp provided an overview of the project, its opportunities, and its dilemmas.
Arnold Huijgen explored how the Land project should handle the contaminated memory of the Nazi emphasis on blood and soil. He seeks the solution in a new understanding of Pentecost.
Eward Postma took us back to his childhood in Friesland, using toys as a guide, and explored traditions related to the land.
Mariëlle van Es gave voice to those often left unheard in discussions around agriculture: farmers, but also dung beetles and the land itself.
Ciska Stark examined what image so-called "green sermons" (submitted for a sermon competition) present. These sermons mainly aim to raise awareness of the seriousness of the situation and encourage people to change their behaviour. However, research shows the wide gap between thinking green and acting green.

Dealing with Injustice

On the final day of the consultation, a small excursion was organised to the old Lückhoff School. Initially, the school was intended for people classified as "Coloured" in Stellenbosch, but during apartheid, they were displaced to other schools. Students had to carry their school desks themselves to their new schools. Their families were forced to leave their homes and move to inferior housing further away. Meanwhile, the school and the surrounding area became part of Stellenbosch University. The school was later returned to the community, and some of the original school desks were ceremoniously carried back. However, the community had been torn apart, and ties were broken. How should such injustice be addressed? Participants in the consultation critically discussed Stellenbosch University's efforts to acknowledge the harm caused.

Contaminated Memories

Stellenbosch and its surroundings are known for the excellent wines produced there. To maintain cheap labour, black people were kept as uneducated as possible, and their meagre wages were partly paid in strong alcohol. Such practices affect generations, and reconciliation is not easy. In a world full of contaminated memories, theology still has an important role to play.

The value of a consultation like this lies not only in the intellectual exchange of ideas. Meeting each other, both in the classroom and around the table, sharing each other's lives, fosters connection and sparks new creativity. Plans for a new consultation are already being made.