After days of cold rain and high wind the sun came out on a perfect spring day in Capetown for the Enthronement of the Bishop of Kimberley and Kuruman as the new Archbishop of Capetown and Primate of the Anglican church of the Province of Southern Africa.

The Cathedral was filled to capacity for a three hour service with music from the Cathedral choir, the St George's Singers, Kimberley diocese and Holy Cross Nyanga. South Africa's "Rainbow culture" was strongly represented not only by the enormously mixed congregation of all colours and racial origins but, perhaps most clearly, by the smooth way the new Archbishop and other participants moved through several languages, most notably Xhosa, Afrikaans and English.

The former Archbishop, Desmond Tutu, presented Archbishop Ndungane with the pastoral cross of the late Archbishop Robert Shelby Taylor as soon as the Dean had installed him and the Bishop of Natal given him his blessing as Dean of the Province.

In his charge to the Anglican church Archbishop Ndungane specifically highlighted certain national and international issues as matters for urgent attention. He called upon the churches of Africa to unite in pressing for the year 2000 as a Jubilee year, welcoming the proposal that the debts of developing countries should be cancelled, redressing "the imbalances of World Economic Order". 20% of South Africa's annual budget would thereby be released to address poverty, housing and education which at present cripple people's aspirations to building a united and stable nation. He offered the co-operation of the Anglican church, most especially by use of its properties and land resources, for work with the government in education and health reform and called for the enlightened spirit of the Christian schools to be the springboard of just and equal opportunities in training. Most important of all, Archbishop Ndungane, pointed to the work of Christian parishes as the Anglican church leads people to a "healing of our memories", in the new South Africa.

The Provost of Southwark represented the Archbishop of Canterbury in reading a greeting to the Archbishop and the province; "many people will look to you for strong and compassionate leadership as together you step into the future". Canon Peter Price offered greetings from USG and Missionary Societies, Canon John Peterson presented a gift on behalf of the Anglican Communion and other church leaders, Anglican, Free Church and Roman Catholic, offered their welcome and prayers. Notably there were greetings from the Jewish and Muslim communities, both of whom are strong in Southern Africa. The Episcopal Church in the United States showed strong continuing support by sending five delegates.

The next day a bigger, more colourful and more indigenous liturgy of the Eucharist was celebrated in Guguletu the township where he grew up while his father was parish priest. The service illustrated most clearly how the church in South Africa has emerged from extended suffering and hardship with its capacity for celebration, humour and community intact. Guguletu is situated on the barren sand of the Cape flats. It is an area of compulsory resettlement, shanty sheds and small concrete block bungalows accommodating most, but not all, of its large dispossessed population. it is typical of the new Archbishop's awareness of the work of his church and the issues of South Africa's new situation that he chose to return to his roots for this remarkable and powerful service at the outset of a new era for Anglicans in the Province.

A report by the Very Revd Colin B Slee, Provost of Southwark Cathedral, who represented the Archbishop of Canterbury at the enthonement.