(ANS – Rome) – Fr Guillermo Basañes, Councillor for the Africa-Madagascar Region, in a brief letter to Salesians in the Blessed Michael Rua Vice-Province has announced the reappointment of Fr François Dufour for the six-year period, 2012-2018.

The Salesian presence in South Africa dates back to 1896, before linking up with the Anglo-Irish Province and then, when the Province of Saint Patrick Province was established (1972), with Ireland. The Vice-Province of Southern Africa (AFM), based in Johannesburg, came into being on 1st January 1989.

Today there are 53 Salesians running 6 works and two presences. The territory of the Vice-Province comprises South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. The educational programme is divided into formal, non-formal schools and vocational training centres, with approximately 20 thousand students; Oratories and Youth Centres in which a consolidated programme of AIDS education and prevention develops, which welcomes 11 thousand children and young people; a network of 32 rural schools for a total of 50 thousand pupils.

After the recent pilgrimage of the casket of Don Bosco, the Vice-Province AFM, enhanced in the Salesian charism, is striving to work in the poorest areas.

Published 10/12/2012