Ezekiel Ntakirutimana
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FACING HOMELESS PEOPLE IN THE INNER CITY OF TSHWANE. A MISSIOLOGICAL CONVERSATION WITH THE WESLEYAN TRADITION by EZEKIEL NTAKIRUTIMANA submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF THEOLOGY IN MISSIOLOGY – WITH SPECIALISATION IN URBAN MINISTRY at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROF J N J KRITZINGER JOINT SUPERVISOR: DR S F DE BEER DECEMBER 2015 i SUMMARY This study was conducted within the pressing social conditions of human vulnerability manifested in a worsening situation of homelessness which forces homeless people into a deplorable life in the inner city of Tshwane. The study is not a detailed strategic plan to design support services that could improve the situation. It is rather about imagining alternative ways to journey with homeless people in their struggle to regain their humanity; hence the title: Facing homeless people in the inner city of Tshwane. Chapter 2 analyses homelessness in the inner city of Tshwane, locating it within the bigger picture of the City of Tshwane. It takes into account the poverty that drives poor people to the margins, resulting in further human degradation. It exposes the adverse conditions that homeless people endure due to the absence of a social support net. The study obtained its information primarily from conversations with homeless people and with practitioners in church based organisations dedicated to addressing homelessness. Out of these conversations, five different causes of homelessness emerged, ranging from economic and political, to health, social and cultural factors. Chapter 3 describes a number of church-based initiatives in the inner city of Tshwane that address the situation of homeless people, analysing their strengths and weaknesses in responding to the causes of homelessness as identified in Chapter 2. Chapter 4 develops an urban theological vision in response to this situation, in the light of the notions of holiness and hospitality in the Wesleyan tradition. Contemplating this teaching, a framework was generated for the journey of the inner city church with homeless people in their efforts to regain humanity, by prioritising economic, political, health, social, and educational strategies. This chapter highlights the fact that John Wesley’s Methodist movement campaigned for the abolition of African slavery. It also journeyed with poor and vulnerable people like widows, orphans and prisoners, using Methodist “Societies” and “Classes” to integrate them into society. ii Finally, Chapter 5 presents an integrative urban theological vision and a set of contextual strategies for the inner city church to journey with homeless people, following the horizons of human liberation developed in earlier chapters. Key concepts: Urban mission, John Wesley, Wesleyan tradition, holiness, hospitality, homeless people, housing, Asset-Based Community Development, urban space, inner city, Tshwane. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis is proudly produced as a result of the cooperation between and efforts by different committed individuals and organisations, mostly around the inner city of Tshwane. It then gives me pleasure to sincerely convey my appreciation to my dear wife, Vestine, and my two children, Happiness and Frank, for their emotional support offered from the commencement of this thesis up to the last moment of submission. In many cases they sacrificed themselves, including relieving me many times from scheduled domestic responsibilities so that I could make considerable progress to meet the research deadline. Sincere thanks are expressed to the Free Methodist Church of South Africa and World Free Methodist Area Fellowship. Through the outgoing Bishop Emeritus Zwelisha Lincoln Shembe, the newly elected Bishop SP Chanza, the late Bishop Emeritus Aaron, and Mrs Ruhumuriza, I have received the spiritual support needed to make progress throughout this research. Bishop Emeritus Shembe has taken part in this study especially at the level of packaging the Wesleyan tradition and how it is followed in the Free Methodist Church since its inception in the North America and Africa. Sincere gratitude is due to Prof JNJ Kritzinger and Dr SF de Beer for their inspiring teachings in the field of urban missiology and for their academic guidance, which now brings this thesis to an opportune moment of joy and celebration. Your constructive advice and patience exercised during this process is gratefully noted. I sincerely owe gratitude to the late Prof Steve de Gruchy for his friendship and for motivating for me to pursue the Theology and Community Development Programme at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus. It is through his networking channels that I was connected with Pretoria Community Ministries / TLF-Institute of Urban Ministry and the University of South Africa to pursue my dream of specialising in urban ministries. Acknowledgements are expressed to the Chief Executive Officer of TLF, Mrs Wilna de Beer, for an inspiring relationship and the gift of encouragement. It is through your iv generosity that I secured the permission to use TLF programmes which deal with homeless people in my study. I also use this opportunity to express sincere thanks to the TLF Programme Coordinators for their invaluable information: Ms Marlies Dauber (TLF Health Unit), Pastor Edward Zulu (Akanani – adult male homeless people), Rev Joel Mayephu (Inkuleko Community Center), Mrs Juliet Sambo (Social Work for TPH shelter), Mrs Musawenkosi Tshuma (Lerato House shelter) and Mr Lukas van der Merwe (Managing Director of Yeast City Housing). I also wish to express gratitude to Mrs Isabel de Beer for her longstanding friendship. I will always remember your openness and your encouraging spirit which has helped me to keep focus. The family of Rev François Ferdinand and Mrs Annonciate Murekizi, and the family of Stuart and Janet Prest Talbot are acknowledged in the thesis for their friendship and motivation as well during this journey. Tribute goes to all my interviewees without whom I would not have been exposed to the real life of the homeless people in the inner city of Tshwane. I owe immeasurable thanks to the World Free Methodist Church Area Fellowship as funding source. On the same note, the University of South Africa and Institute of Urban Ministry are also acknowledged. Without funding capacity from these sources, it could not have been possible to finish the study. Last but not least, the editorial work has been done by Mrs Win Bryant and Mrs Lindi de Beer. I am very thankful for their professional services to produce quality academic research. v TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION – RESEARCH BACKGROUND................1 1.1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION TO CONDUCT THE RESEARCH ................ 5 1.2.1 Academic experience ...................................................................................... 7 1.2.2 Professional experience .................................................................................. 7 1.2.3 The researcher’s spirituality ............................................................................. 8 1.2.4 Personal experience: ..................................................................................... 10 1.3 RESEARCH PROBLEM AND OBJECTIVES ....................................................... 12 1.3.1 Research question ......................................................................................... 15 1.3.2 Clarification of basic concepts arising from the research question ................ 16 1.3.3 Research objectives ...................................................................................... 35 1.4 META-THEORETICAL ASSUMPTIONS .............................................................. 36 1.4.1 Ontology ........................................................................................................ 36 1.4.2 Epistemology ................................................................................................. 37 1.4.3 Teleology ....................................................................................................... 38 1.5 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ........................ 38 1.5.1 Insertion ......................................................................................................... 40 1.5.2 Context analysis: ........................................................................................... 41 1.5.3 Theological reflection ..................................................................................... 42 1.5.4 Planning ......................................................................................................... 44 1.5.5 Spirituality ...................................................................................................... 44 1.6 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS ARISING FROM ABOVE BROADER METHODOLOGY AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ............................................... 46 1.6.1 Three main sources that have informed the research ................................... 46 1.6.2 Sample selection ........................................................................................... 48 1.6.3 Classification of Study Participants ................................................................ 50 1.6.4 Data Analysis ................................................................................................. 51 1.6.5 Research limitations .....................................................................................