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LIVING IN THE LAND : AN OIKO-THEOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO THE AMADIBA CRISIS COMMITTEE OF XOLOBENI’S STRUGGLE FOR UBUNTU, LAND AND ECOLOGY

The central thesis of this article is that the network of living relationships between community, ecology and land as understood by the Amadiba people of Xolobeni may be recognised as an integral part of the wider context in which public and ecumenical oikos- and ubuntu theology needs to be practiced, in a challenging time in South African society is dealing with serious challenges regarding mining, land, economic development and communities’ struggle to control their own livelihoods and destinies. As part of this article, the story of the Amadiba Crisis Committee’s struggle to say no against brutal mining and road development is told. This leads to the searching for some pointers for public oiko-ubuntu theologians to participate in the struggle for human rights and self-determination for communities threatened by mining. These are, i) a contextual analysis of government’s engagement with ecology and economy from perspective of the oikonomia tou Theou (the economy of God); ii) ecumenical cooperation with the groundswell of community organisations and ngo’s who are working for justice for mining-affected communities; iii) and possible ways of keeping government accountable to communities.