Kimberley and Kuruman Link
The link between the dioceses of Oxford and Kimberley and Kuruman was set up in 1993 following the announcement of the first democratic elections in South Africa. The relationship has been monitored every five years when new plans and goals are mutually agreed. Oxford has a link committee with individuals having responsibilities: for example, one in each archdeaconry looking after parish-to-parish links; education and training; health; and development issues.
Kimberley and Kuruman is a large diocese comprising most of the Northern Cape and part of the North West Province. Its area is roughly one-and-a-half times the size of the British Isles, but only supports just over twenty stipendiary clergy. There are four main centres: Kimberley, Kuruman, Upington and Mafikeng / Mmabatho (formally the capital of the tribal homeland state of Bophuthatswana). Other than that, much of what remains is a vast ‘rural’ area with high unemployment. As with many other parts of Africa, the HIV/Aids pandemic has caused enormous suffering especially among the young and there is a growing problem of orphans. For most of the last few years, the link has been the responsibility of the diocesan administrator / secretary who has direct contact with the bishop (there are no suffragans). There is now a link committee formed to take over the responsibility, however due to the large distances to travel, there may still be difficulties.
In the current five-year term, Oxford has agreed to provide financial support for the low stipends as Kimberley and Kuruman is not a self-sufficient diocese and has to pay the minimum. This finishes at the end of 2007 when the relationship comes up for review.
