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“You are exactly the right person,” Cardinal Brislin Congratulates Bishop Sipuka, His Successor in Cape Town Archdiocese

Credit: SACBC
Sabrine Amboka

By Sabrine Amboka

Pretoria, 14 January, 2026 / 11:45 pm (ACI Africa).

Stephen Cardinal Brislin has congratulated Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka following his appointment as the new Local Ordinary for the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Town, assuring him prayers, support, and goodwill from Catholics across South Africa.

In his Tuesday, January 13 reflection, Cardinal Brislin expressed joy and confidence in Bishop Sipuka as his successor in the South African Metropolitan See, describing the Archbishop-elect as the right choice to lead the Archdiocese.

“I am so pleased and honoured to be able to say, Archbishop-elect Stembele Sipuka, congratulations; well done. You are exactly the right person to be the Archbishop of Cape Town,” Cardinal Brislin said.

Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Sipuka the Local Ordinary of Cape Town in South Africa on January 9, transferring him from the Catholic Diocese of Mthatha, where he has been serving as Bishop since his Episcopal Consecration in May 2008.

Cape Town became vacant on 28 October 2024 following the transfer of Cardinal Brislin, who had been at the helm of the South African Metropolitan See since 2009, to the country’s Catholic Archdiocese of Johannesburg.

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In his January 13 reflection, Cardinal Brislin said that Archbishop Sipuka’s appointment has been warmly received by the people of God in the three-nation regional Conference that the Cardinal chairs, the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC).

“I, together with all the Catholics in Southern Africa, and many other people, wish you every grace, every blessing as you take on this new role,” Cardinal Brislin said.

He acknowledged the happiness among Catholics in Cape Town Archdiocese, extending his congratulations to the local Church. “I know that the people in Cape Town are delighted, and I congratulate them too on their new Archbishop,” Cardinal Brislin said.

He went on to assure Bishop Sipuka his continuous support as he assumes his new pastoral responsibility, saying, “May God bless you, Archbishop-elect Sipuka, and may He always guide you with His Holy Spirit. Whatever happens, we are always there to support you.”

The South African Archbishop-elect is the immediate former SACBC President; he has previously served as Assistant to the President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM).

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“You are exactly the right person,” Cardinal Brislin Congratulates Bishop Sipuka, His Successor in Cape Town Archdiocese

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He is the current Chairman of SACBC Finance Committee and the Catholic Board of Education.

On 4 July 2025, Bishop Sipuka was among the 22 new members appointed by Pope Leo XIV to the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue. Other African appointees to the Vatican Dicastery included Bishop Willybard Kitogho Lagho of Kenya and Bishop Ollo Modeste Kambou of Burkina Faso.

Sabrine Amboka

Sabrine Amboka is a Kenyan journalist with a passion for Catholic church communication. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from St. Paul's University in Kenya.

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