Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka appointed Archbishop of Cape Town

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka as the new Archbishop of Cape Town, marking a significant moment for the Catholic Church in Southern Africa. The appointment was announced in a communiqué issued by the Vatican Press Office on Friday, 9 January 2026.

Until his latest appointment, Bishop Sipuka had been serving as the Bishop of Mthatha Diocese in the Eastern Cape. He succeeds Cardinal Stephen Brislin, who has been Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Cape Town since October 2024, following his appointment as Archbishop of Johannesburg.

Newly appointed Archbishop of Cape Town, Sithembile Sipuka

Born on 27 April 1960, Bishop Sipuka was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Queenstown on 17 December 1988. He was appointed Bishop of Mthatha on 8 February 2008 and ordained bishop on 3 May 2008. Before his episcopal ministry, he served as Rector of St John Vianney National Seminary, where he played a formative role in the training of future priests and in shaping pastoral leadership within the Church.

Over the years, Bishop Sipuka has become one of the most prominent and respected church leaders in Southern Africa, known for his commitment to justice, peace, dialogue, and ethical leadership. His experience extends well beyond diocesan boundaries.

Serving SECAM and SACBC

He served the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) for over a decade, first as Second Vice President for six years and later as First Vice President from 2019 to 2022. During this period, he chaired the Justice and Peace Commission and became a leading voice on issues of good governance, migration, unemployment, conflict, and social inequality across the African continent.

From February 2019 to January 2024, Bishop Sipuka served as President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC). His tenure was marked by a strong emphasis on synodality, dialogue, and the Church’s prophetic role in society. He consistently encouraged the Church to walk together in discernment, mutual respect, and shared mission, especially within culturally and religiously diverse contexts.

At the service of country

In July 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Bishop Sipuka as a member of South Africa’s National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group, a body tasked with guiding inclusive national reflection and dialogue on the country’s social, political, and economic challenges. The appointment affirmed his standing as a trusted voice for reconciliation, social cohesion, and ethical leadership in public life.

In addition to his new role as Archbishop of Cape Town, Bishop Sipuka also serves as a member of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, a key body that promotes understanding, cooperation, and peace between the Catholic Church and other faith traditions.

Challenging inequality and social division

The 67-year-old prelate also serves as the President of the South African Council of Churches, the first Catholic bishop to lead the ecumenical body in Southern Africa. Under his leadership, the SACC has continued to address pressing challenges facing society, including inequality, corruption, xenophobia, and social division.

Bishop Sipuka has also been an outspoken advocate for peace in regions affected by conflict and instability. He has led and participated in solidarity visits to Mozambique following post-election unrest in October 2024, engaging with the Episcopal Conference of Mozambique, the Christian Council of Mozambique, and government representatives. He has likewise spoken out on crises in Gaza, Eswatini, and the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique.

As Archbishop of Cape Town, Bishop Sithembele Anton Sipuka brings with him a wealth of pastoral experience, ecumenical sensitivity, and international exposure. His appointment signals continuity in the Church’s commitment to synodality, dialogue, and service to the marginalised, as he takes up leadership of one of Southern Africa’s most significant archdioceses.

SACBC Communications Office – Pretoria
Source: vaticannews.va/en