Anglican Church in South Africa Acknowledges Failures in Addressing Sexual Abuse Allegations Against John Smyth

The Anglican Church in South Africa has acknowledged its failure to report sexual abuse allegations against John Smyth, a former member. Smyth abused children in the UK and Zimbabwe during the 1970s and 1980s before escaping to South Africa, where he died in 2018. An independent review last November revealed that the Church of England had concealed "horrific" abuse by Smyth, who volunteered at Christian summer camps during those decades.

Smyth relocated to South Africa in 2001 after fleeing Zimbabwe amid accusations of sexually, physically, and psychologically abusing over 100 children and men at Christian summer camps. He continued working in parishes until 2014. The head of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa stated that warnings about Smyth were not communicated effectively.

Church's Response to Allegations

A South African panel led by a retired judge released a report on Tuesday, criticising the Anglican Church for not reporting Smyth despite no evidence of similar abuses in South Africa. The panel noted a high risk of reoffending. Archbishop Thabo Makgoba mentioned that the church failed to share warnings with another church Smyth joined in 2014, which was not Anglican.

In 2013, the Anglican Church received warnings about Smyth's activities in the UK and Zimbabwe but did not inform the other church he joined later. Archbishop Makgoba apologised to church members for failing to protect congregants from potential harm.

Inquiry Findings and Apologies

The inquiry found that the Church of England covered up "horrific" abuse by Smyth. The 251-page report detailed how he abused 30 boys and young men in the UK and 85 in Africa over five decades. Despite some individuals' efforts to alert authorities, responses from the Church of England and others were ineffective and amounted to a cover-up.

Last year, former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby resigned after an inquiry revealed he did not inform police about Smyth's serial abuse when he learned of it in 2013. Makgoba expressed regret for not safeguarding congregants from risk, stating, "I and the Diocese apologise to our congregants and the wider community that we did not protect people from that risk."