I love my city.
I have lived in Cape
Town for almost sixty years. About 1 million people live in the immediate
vicinity of the central business district, but more than 4 million live in the
greater metropolitan area. The city has been named the best place in the world
to visit by both The New York Times and The Daily Telegraph. Visitors fall in
love with the rolling wine lands and our majestic Table Mountain surrounded by
the most beautiful beaches. Having had the privilege to visit many global
cities I understand why visitors appreciate the scenic beauty. On the other
hand Cape Town is also known as the “most violent city” in South Africa and has
recently been ranked as the 11th most violent city in the world.
Cape Town has also been
accused of not being a “truly African city”. I am not sure where that comes
from but I suspect it has to do with the personal, negative experiences of
individual residents and visitors to our city. - and that would be regrettable.
But perhaps we should not forget that a former editor of The Cape Times, a
daily Cape Town newspaper always reminded us, that we have “one city, but many
cultures”. In this sense, in our city’s defence I would offer the view that we
are a truly international, cosmopolitan city in Africa. And hopefully, together
with other cities in Africa, we will find common ground to bring hope to our
common future as Africans.
There are also many
positive prophecies about the city of Cape Town. For the longest time now,
there has been the prophecy that a “fire of revival” will start at the southern
tip of Africa and spread across South Africa and to the rest of the continent
of Africa. In addition to this perennial prophecy many other prophecies have
been recorded that God is up to something in the city of Cape Town that will
impact the entire continent of Africa. As if in response to the prophecies,
over the last few years, many local and international “gospel movements” have
become active the city. In this regard many “city impacting events” have taken
place and continue to take place in the city of Cape Town.
During the month of May
2019 our city was host to two Pan African conferences. In the first week the
New York based organisation
movement.org hosted leaders from about 25 African
cities who reflected on how “Gospel Movements” can be mobilised in all African
cities. Towards the end of May Global Teen Challenge Africa hosted a conference
where leaders from 28 African countries grappled with the scourge of substance
abuse facing the continent. I had the God given privilege to speak at both of
these events. These “happy coincidences” should not be underestimated. Think
about it - between these events leaders from 50 African countries gathered in
our
city
about how we can make a difference!
