‘The People Shall Govern’ the Role of the Church in the Development of Participatory Democracy in South Africa

This research focuses on the role that needs to be played by the church in the development of democracy in a democratic South Africa. It argues that since the church played an important role in the struggle against apartheid and during the transition to the formation of a democratic government, it has to continue being involved in influencing the political life of the country. However, the first decade of democracy has seen the church retreating to denominational conclaves leaving a vacuum in the political arena. This is blamed to the tight control and centralization of government which makes it difficult for citizens and civil society organizations, such as the church, to penetrate and participate. Then it calls for the church to consider active participation in the development of democracy by suggesting ways of political engagement for the church in South Africa.