The fallout following the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury over the church's coverup of abuse by John Smyth has reached South Africa, where Archbishop Thabo Makgoba has been criticised for his response.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the most senior leader in the Church of England, has resigned over his handling of a child abuse case, according to his official account.

Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, has stepped down following an investigation that concluded he failed to report serial physical and sexual abuse by a volunteer at Christian summer camps to authorities promptly upon learning of it.