On October 9, 2023, at the Birchwood Conference Centre in Johannesburg, The Interfaith Forum of South Africa (TIFSA) convened. Organized by the South African Council of Churches (SACC), the forum brought together over 1,000 delegates and religious leaders from diverse faith traditions to address the critical state of South Africa.

Among the discussions was a panel titled ‘The Makings of a Capable State Informed by Current Conditions’. Ivor Chipkin, Executive Director of the New South Institute (NSI), was a prominent participant. The panel, facilitated by Prof Sandy Africa from 14h30 to 16h00, examined South Africa’s democratic challenges in the broader context of global issues.

Chipkin’s contributions to the panel can be accessed on YouTube, specifically between the timestamps 4:41:44 and 6:24:14.

TIFSA, as an amalgamation of various faith traditions, has a longstanding commitment to contribute towards a just and equitable society. This year’s conference, themed “Our Country, Our Responsibility”, aimed at tackling the “social and moral crisis” exacerbated by factors like poverty, corruption, and unemployment.

Further details about the entirety of the TIFSA conference, its objectives, and other panel discussions are available on the official event portal.