11. From 1990 to 1996 : New Beginnings and New Challenges.
Nelson Mandela was released from prison on 11 Febraury 1990 after 27 years of prison life most of which were spent on Robben Island.
Towards the end of that same year Fr Alois left Ackerville and continued to serve at the Cathedral and the mines. Fr John Maneschg took charge of the parish with Fr Manana. Meanwhile more and more people began to settle in the new KwaGuqa township extensions. But a great number of the people built shacks because they were unemployed. A small group of Loreto Sisters - Eileen, Mariane and Linda - began to help with social projects among the poor people in these new settlements. With the help of the Witbank Diocese and overseas funding agencies, Fr Maneschg and Fr Manana managed to have a new pastoral centre built at Extension 4. The Centre was blessed and officially opened by Bishop Nkhumishe on 3 May 1992. On the same day the bishop blessed the small convent of the Loreto sisters adjacent to the Centre. Fr Manana took charge of the parish in 1993 and Fr Zwane assisted. 1994 was the year of the first South African democratic elections and President Mandela took charge of the ANC -led government of national unity. In 1994 the Comboni Missionaries ended their contract with the parish and so once again Sacred Heart was served by local diocesan priests with Fr Joao Rodrigues in charge and Fr Zwane assisting. They continued to serve the people in both the old township and new extensions until the arrival of Fr Didier and Fr Paul in 1996.These two Missionaries of Africa took charge of the new Centre at Extension 4 which in effect became a new independent parish.The township extensions continued to grow with a total population of over 200 000 and newly elected local councils have been hard - pressed to cater for the growing housing and water and electricity needs.
During 1996 the new South African constitution was completed and numerous reforms began to take place especially in education and
labour relations. The most controversial bill passed by parliament was the Termination of Preganancy Bill which the Catholic Church continues to oppose.
Sacred Heart History