Rubin Phillip
Encyclopedia
The Right Reverend Rubin Phillip (b. circa 1948) is bishop
of the Anglican Diocese of Natal
. The great-grandchild of indentured labourers from Andhra Pradesh
, Phillip is the first black South Africa
n to hold the position of Bishop of Natal
. He grew up in Clairwood, a suburb of Durban
with a large concentration of people of India
n ethnicity, in a non-religious household, but converted to Christianity
before being enthroned as bishop in February 2000. He was a noted anti-apartheid activist and spent three years under house arrest in the 1970s.
and was the Deputy President of the South African Student's Organisation in 1969 when Steve Biko
was President.
from being transported through South Africa
. He is chair of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum in South Africa.
. He has attended meetings, memorials, mass ecumenical prayers, marches and UnFreedom Day hosted by Abahlali baseMjondolo and has supported the organisation's legal battle to have the KZN Slums Act
declared unconstitutional. In September 2009, he condemned the violent expulsion of Abahlali baseMjondolo from the Kennedy Road informal settlement blaming political interference and stating that "this militia has acted with the support of the local ANC structures".. He supported the movement through the case that followed the attack.
He has also said that: "If we can successfully host a massive event like the World Cup, spending billions, then why can't we provide water, electricity and housing for a handful of shack dwellers?"
and all those who have stood in solidarity with them."
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Anglican Diocese of Natal
Anglican Diocese of Natal
The Anglican Diocese of Natal covers the western part of the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, west and south of the Tugela and Buffalo rivers. The episcopal leader of the diocese is the Bishop of Natal.-History:...
. The great-grandchild of indentured labourers from Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
, Phillip is the first black South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n to hold the position of Bishop of Natal
Bishop of Natal
The Bishop of Natal exercises episcopal leadership over the Diocese of Natal of the Church of Southern Africa.-Succession:-See also:*Anglican Church of Southern Africa*Anglican Diocese of Natal-References:...
. He grew up in Clairwood, a suburb of Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
with a large concentration of people of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n ethnicity, in a non-religious household, but converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
before being enthroned as bishop in February 2000. He was a noted anti-apartheid activist and spent three years under house arrest in the 1970s.
Black Consciousness
Phillip was involved in the Black Consciousness MovementBlack Consciousness Movement
The Black Consciousness Movement was a grassroots anti-Apartheid activist movement that emerged in South Africa in the mid-1960s out of the political vacuum created by the jailing and banning of the African National Congress and Pan Africanist Congress leadership after the Sharpeville Massacre in...
and was the Deputy President of the South African Student's Organisation in 1969 when Steve Biko
Steve Biko
Stephen Biko was a noted anti-apartheid activist in South Africa in the 1960s and 1970s. A student leader, he later founded the Black Consciousness Movement which would empower and mobilize much of the urban black population. Since his death in police custody, he has been called a martyr of the...
was President.
Zimbabwe
In 2008, Phillip successfully obtained a court order preventing arms shipments destined for ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
from being transported through South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He is chair of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum in South Africa.
Abahlali baseMjondolo
Phillip has been a strong supporter of the shack dwellers movement' Abahlali baseMjondoloAbahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...
. He has attended meetings, memorials, mass ecumenical prayers, marches and UnFreedom Day hosted by Abahlali baseMjondolo and has supported the organisation's legal battle to have the KZN Slums Act
KZN Slums Act
The KwaZulu-Natal Elimination and Prevention of Re-emergence of Slums Act, 2007 was a provincial law dealing with land tenure and evictions in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.-The Act:...
declared unconstitutional. In September 2009, he condemned the violent expulsion of Abahlali baseMjondolo from the Kennedy Road informal settlement blaming political interference and stating that "this militia has acted with the support of the local ANC structures".. He supported the movement through the case that followed the attack.
He has also said that: "If we can successfully host a massive event like the World Cup, spending billions, then why can't we provide water, electricity and housing for a handful of shack dwellers?"
Bremen International Peace Award
In 2009 the Bishop was given the Bremen International Peace Aware on the grounds of his work in the struggle against apartheid and his ongoing work "to offer solidarity to the displaced people, victims of persecutions and detainees".Diakonia Award
In August 2010 the Bishop was given the Diakonia award in recognition of "his involvement with the anti apartheid movement as far back as the 1960s, through his advocacy and involvement in the Zimbabwe crisis to his solidarity with the shack dwellers movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo." He dedicated the award to "shack dwellers, especially those from Kennedy RoadKennedy Road
Kennedy Road may refer to:*Kennedy Road *Kennedy Road, Durban*Kennedy Road, Hong Kong*Kennedy Street, Istanbul*Kennedy Street, Ankara*Kennedy Expressway in Chicago, Illinois*Kennedy Highway in Queensland, Australia...
and all those who have stood in solidarity with them."