Faith Leaders Call for a Jubilee of Hope: Debt Justice at the Heart of South Africa’s G20 Year
As South Africa takes on the presidency of the G20, faith leaders from across the country gathered with the Minister of Finance to deliver a united message: it is time to transform debt into hope.
The meeting included representatives from the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, led by Cardinal Stephen Brislin, the South African Council of Churches, the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA), the United Ulama Council of South Africa, and international partners like Jubilee USA. Together, they urged the government to advocate for debt justice, responsible lending, and transparency during its G20 presidency and within the Jubilee 2025 framework.
This initiative, rooted in the biblical concept of Jubilee— a time of renewal, release, and restoration— reimagines how nations can manage public finances in ways that uplift people instead of burdening them. Many African countries are grappling with severe debt crises that adversely affect public services such as healthcare, education, and climate resilience.
The delegation highlighted four key priorities:
- Debt Crisis Response: Establish faster and fairer pathways for countries to restructure unsustainable debt without cutting essential social services.
- Responsible Lending and Borrowing: Strengthen safeguards to prevent future debt traps and ensure that loans benefit the common good.
- Scaling Up Concessional Finance: Expand the capabilities of multilateral development banks to ensure that concessional finance reaches the most impoverished communities.
- Transparency and Accountability: Promote open reporting on public borrowing and the utilization of public resources.
Participants also addressed the issue of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs)—a tool that could provide new liquidity and relief to low-income countries if effectively redirected.
“Faith voices have a moral duty to remind decision-makers that behind every debt statistic are human lives,” said Rev. Lilana Kasper, Executive Director of LUCSA. “Debt justice is not just an economic issue; it’s about protecting dignity and ensuring that our nations can invest in hope.”
This engagement represents a significant step in bringing moral leadership into technical financial discussions. As G20 discussions progress, faith communities across Africa continue to gather signatures for the “Turn Debt into Hope” petition— a global call for justice and renewal leading up to Jubilee 2025.
To learn more or to add your voice, visit [turndebtintohope.caritas.org] (https://turndebtintohope.caritas.org).