Looking Forward:

A Statement from Concerned Adventists who work in Academia

Dr. Solomon Maphosa

Executive Secretary & Acting President
Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
27 Regency Drive, Route 21 Corporate Park
Nellmapius Drive, Irene 0174
Pretoria, South Africa

CC:
SID Chief Financial Officer (Goodwell Nthani)
SID Education Director (Dr. Ellah Kamwendo)
GC Associate Secretary (Pastor H Moorooven)
SAU President (Dr David Spencer)

We would like to express our sadness over the developments the Church in the SID is currently
faced with. The issues surrounding the academic qualifications of Pastors Paul Ratsara and
Paul Charles have been demanding a lot of attention and energy from the church and has
indeed distracted us from focussing on the important business of the church.

We have also noted the statement issued by the General Conference on May 31, 2016 on the
resignation of Dr. Ratsara and the fact that you will serve as Acting SID President until the
election of a new President.

We would like to commit ourselves to prayer and support for you and your leadership team
at the SID as you serve in these challenging times.

There are indeed many challenges that would require your leadership as we, as a church,
work towards appropriate and sustainable solutions.

We would like to indicate that the following matters would require your urgent attention
as the SID family moves forward and also finds healing from the pain that it has been
experiencing

1) Since it has now been determined that Pastor Paul Charles does not have the required
formal training (academic qualifications) to serve as a minister in the Adventist
Church, it would be prudent that his services as the Director of Communication, Public
Affairs and Religious Liberty at SID be terminated. And this is not primarily because of
the academic qualifications, but in light of the way he misrepresented his educational
qualifications. This does not only apply to the qualifications from the Freedom
Institute of Theological Studies and Research (India) but also to his claims that he has
since studied for a second PhD. It is our strong belief that he does not have the moral
and ethical characteristics and the integrity to continue to serve as a Minister in the
Adventist Church

2) The now widely reported revelations that Dr. Hopeson Bonya (SID Vice President)
compiled major sections of the UNISA doctoral thesis of Pastor Ratsara raises a
number of issues that would need urgent attention. Dr. Bonyas contribution to the
PhD thesis (unless it was known and declared to the University) was in violation, on
the part of Pastor Ratsara, of guidelines on how doctoral research work should be
done. It was also an unethical act by Dr. Bonya, and this should neither be overlooked
nor taken lightly, no matter what the circumstances surrounding these activities were.

It is therefore our firm belief and recommendation that the following steps be taken

a) An proper investigation be conducted by the SID to get all the details surrounding the
compilation of Pastor Ratsaras dissertation
b) The SID Ethics Committee be tasked with considering the behaviour of both Pastor
Ratsara and Pastor Bonya in this matter and recommend appropriate action be taken.
c) The University of South Africa (UNISA) be encouraged to conduct its own investigation
into the matter and that the SID (as well as the GC) provide full support to the process
through the provision of whatever documents and information UNISA might require.
2

3) It is also highly recommended that the SID (and all the Union Conferences/Missions
that fall within its territory) develop and implement systems that would assist in
ensuring that the church does not experience similar events in future. The systems
would deal with, among others, the following:

a) The verification of academic qualifications of church employees according to the

laws/rules/regulations

and

standards

of

the

country

where

the

Union

Conference/Mission is located
b) Transparency

and

oversight

in

relationships

between

colleagues

(line

managers/subordinates) within the organisation. This is because of the numerous

questions about how Dr. Bonya could be party to the doctoral work of Pastor Ratsara
without anyone else knowing. If it was known by more than the two persons involved,
what would have been the appropriate course of action to be taken by those who
knew?
c) It might also be worth looking into broadening the scope of activities of the SID
Education Department to go beyond just promoting Adventist Christian
education. Apart from focusing on verifying workers qualifications, there would also
be a need by the Department to assist church workers aspiring to upgrade their
academic qualifications at recognized institutions, preferably, in the SID territory.
There are many Adventist academics who would be prepared to tutor/supervise
church workers studying on a part-time basis. Such academics should be conversant
with the Higher Education system and related policies currently operational in the
country. Perhaps a preliminary survey of workers needing such assistance would have
to be conducted, before launching such a programme.

It is crucial that the SID leadership, in an attempt to move forward, acts to resolve these issues
in a manner that would generate the high levels of trust and respect from the church
membership. The recent events have led to deep erosions of trust in church leadership
We hope and pray that God guides and leads His church as we deal with these matters.

Dr. Willie Chinyamurindi

Senior Lecturer: Department of Business
Management
University of Fort Hare; South Africa
Email:chinyaz@gmail.com

Prof. Mziwoxolo Sirayi

Executive Dean: Faculty of the Arts
Tshwane University of Technology
Pretoria, South Africa
Email:siraym@tut.ac.za

A/Prof. Edward Chamisa

Department of Finance and Tax
University of Cape Town; South Africa
Email: Edward.Chamisa@uct.ac.za

A/Prof. Dr. John Akokpari

Department of Political Studies
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Email:john.akokpari@uct.ac.za

Mr. Clinton Plaatjes

Executive IT Country Manager
South Africa
Email:clintonplaatjes@outlook.com

Mr. Wandile Bangisi

Pastoral Counsellor, Pretoria
Email:wandile.bangisi@gmail.com

Mr. Pitso Tsibolane

Lecturer: Department of Information Systems
University of Cape Town, South Africa
Email:pitso.tsibolane@uct.ac.za

Dr. Alvin Masarira, PrEng

Structural Engineering Consultant
&Visiting Academic: University of Cape Town and
University of Johannesburg
Email:Alvin.Masarira@gmail.com

Dr. Bernhard Ficker (Retired Academic)

Associate Director of Research
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Cape Town, South Africa
Email:mimetes7@gmail.com

Mr. Zolani Simayi

Lecturer: Department of Precilinical Studies
University of Limpopo, South Africa
Email:zsimayi@gmail.com

Dr Misheck Ndebele
School of Education
University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, South Africa
Email:misheck.ndebele@wits.ac.za

Dr. Jeff Crocombe

Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Pacific Adventist University
Papua New Guinea
(Lecturer: Helderberg College, South Africa)
2006 - 2011
Email: jeffcrocombe@gmail.com

Dr Fusi Madela
Specialist General Surgeon
Addington Hospital
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Durban, South Africa
Email:fmadela@gmail.com

Mr. Bongani Khonjwayo

Researcher and HR Policy Development Specialist
Durban, South Africa
Email:Bongani.k@me.com

Dr. Ron du Preez

Retired & Part-Time Pastor-Arizona Conference, NAD & Adjunct /Online Professor:
Adventist University of Africa (Kenya); Andrews University (Mich., USA)
Southern Adventist University (Tenn., USA)
Email: ron.dupreez@gmail.com