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Africa’s Debt Crisis “an ethical, spiritual tragedy”: South African Catholic Sister at G20 Social Summit Side Event

Sr. Dominica Mkhize. Credit: Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC)
Silas Isenjia

By Silas Isenjia

Johannesburg, 20 November, 2025 / 11:58 pm (ACI Africa).

The Associate Secretary General of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC) has described Africa's debt crisis as “an ethical and spiritual tragedy” that needs to be addressed, noting that the debt is having a profound impact on the poor across the continent.

Presenting during the G20 Social Summit side event that was held in Johannesburg on the theme, “A Jubilee for Solidarity: Towards a People and Planet Driven Financial Architecture for Africa,” Sr. Dominica Mkhize said Africa's debt crisis wounds human dignity.

Sr. Mkhize made reference to Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te on love for the poor, and underlined the need to rediscover “love that bends down” to address Africa's debt crisis, which she likened to wounds.

“Across Africa, the debt crisis has become one of these wounds,” she said in her Wednesday, November 19, presentation  and explained, “A recent study in 12 countries shows that fewer than 1 percent of the poorest children finish secondary school, and that more than 80 percent of nations have been forced to cut spending on education and health.”

The member of the daughters of St. Francis of Assisi (FSF) explained that Africa’s debt crisis is not just an economic issue but “an ethical and spiritual tragedy which is a barrier to the fullness of life that God desires for His children.”

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“As a Catholic family, guided by the gospel and by our social teaching, we cannot remain silent in the face of this ethical and spiritual tragedy,” said the South African Sister who also serves as the national coordinator for Caritas South Africa.

Reflecting on her experiences as an official of the development entity, Sr. Mkhize said, “I carry with me the daily stories of the Caritas branches in South Africa, and indeed, in all the other countries in Africa.”

In villages, townships, and informal settlements across Africa, she explained, “members of Caritas meet families whose lives are shaped not by academic statistics and economic indicators, but by deep human suffering.”

At the summit that SACBC organized in collaboration with Caritas Africa, Caritas South Africa, and SACBC Justice & Peace, Sr. Mkhize said the suffering are the very people whom the gospel teaches Christian family to place at the center as they are the crucified face of Christ among the Christians.

The one-day event that brought together Church leaders, academia, UN agencies, civil society, youth and women representatives to address Africa’s escalating debt crisis and its impact on education, health, climate action and social well-being was held at Birchwood Hotel, Petit Centre in Johannesburg.

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The 19 countries of the G20 include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.). Other entities are the EU, and from 2023, the AU.

In her November 19 presentation, Sr. Mkhize called for the cancellation of “unjust debts for climate financing that honors God’s preferential love for the poor, and for a global financial architecture that reflects the mercy, justice, and compassion of God.”

“Today, I invite each of you to stand in solidarity with the most vulnerable, especially the 2.1 billion children and young people whose education is threatened by debt burdens,” she said.

She added, “Let us bring to the G20 recommendations that do not merely solve problems on paper, but that restore dignity, hope, and real life to families.”

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.

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