E Molewa: Mass Prayer Service

30 September 2007

His Grace, Bishop, Dr Barnabas Lekganyane
Elders and Members of the Zion Christian Church Council
Members of the Executive Council of the North West Provincial Government
Councillors, Members of Provincial Legislatures and Members of Parliament
ZCC Congregants, Fellow Worshipers, Fellow South Africans

Khotsong!

I am immensely honoured to once again welcome His Grace, Bishop Barnabas
Lekganyane back to the North West province. Two years ago, His Grace, Bishop
Lekganyane graced us with his presence at Odi Stadium in Mabopane as we prayed
in unison for the safe return of our dear sister, missing Constable Francis
Rasuge. As it turned out, Francis has so far not been found and the courts have
since declared her dead and his murderer appropriately sentenced to life in
prison.

We used that occasion to highlight the critical role that leaders of many
faiths, especially the Christian Church, played in the struggle for the
liberation of our country, as well as during the transition to democracy. With
specific reference to His Grace, Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, we recalled the
period in April 1992 when it was to him that three of the country's most
prominent leaders at the time, Nelson Mandela of the African National Congress
(ANC), FW de Klerk of the National Party (NP) and then State President and
Mangosuthu Buthelezi of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), turned for prayers.
The country was in the grip of low intensity warfare amidst allegations of
so-called black-on-black violence and very few could imagine that two years
down the line there would be a peaceful election conducted.

Your grace, Bishop Lekganyane

Of course, this is not the first time that you have helped turn this
Mmabatho Stadium into the biggest Mass Prayer Service that our province has
ever witnessed. Three years ago, it was to you that we turned when we were
celebrating ten years of democracy. We know that when the time comes in the
future for us to request your indulgence one more time, you will not turn us
back.

You will receive us with the warmth that we know you for. May the good Lord
continue to bless you as you continue to lead the more than four million
congregants that constitute the Zion Christian Church. Your influence
transcends national boundaries and we look upon you to use your stature, as you
have in the past, to preach goodness to all parts of the world where you are so
capable of reaching.

That you are a very influential leader is beyond question, so much so that
none other than the arch-conservative former state president of apartheid-era
South Africa and the one person who presided over probably the most brutal
period in our history, the late PW Botha, could not resist undertaking a
pilgrimage to the Zion City Moria. Of course, he had other, sinister political
motives. You proved then as you continue to this day that when you say you are
politically non-partisan you mean it.

Indeed, your congregation of more than four million members is constituted
of people from different political persuasions and ideological inclinations,
all brought together by a common desire to worship under your able leadership.
We revere and admire you for your vision and courageous leaderships. Where many
would have fallen into the temptation to abuse their position of power and
influence over so many, you have continuously stood firm on the principles that
have stood you and the Zion Christian Church in good stead.

Khotso, a e ate, Masione!

We owe His Grace, Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, a huge debt of gratitude for
he has taken it upon himself to lead the brigade for moral regeneration in this
country without ever being asked to do so. We are indebted to him because he
continues to pray for us in the midst of all the difficulties that bedevil our
fledgling democracy.

We must also pray to the Almighty that He spares and blesses him for many
years to come. Our country has been through some of the most serious trials and
tribulations. We have witnessed some of the worst cases of human rights
violations. The apartheid regime of the past turned the state machinery upon
the black majority, just so that the abundant natural, mineral and other
resources of this wealthy country could be enjoyed by a tiny minority. In the
course of this plunder, thousands of lives were lost unnecessarily. Millions
were denied basic services.

When democracy ultimately dawned, we were all looking forward to living in
peace and tranquillity. We envisioned a country in which communities could walk
freely in their neighbourhoods, any time of the day or night. We envisioned a
society in which the human rights of women, children and the elderly would be
respected by all. We envisioned a country in which personal growth, prosperity
and accumulation of property would be respected. In many ways, we have made
significant strides compared to the prior to 27 April 1994. In certain ways,
unfortunately, we are facing some of the most worrying instances of moral
degeneration and crime.

How is it that a young woman, as is the case with Francis Rasuge, can just
disappear without trace? How is it that a father can rape his own daughter, not
to mention his neighbours? How is it that rather than hand a suspected criminal
over to the law enforcement agencies, communities would rather mete out
kangaroo mob justice? What has come of the country that the Congress of the
People defined by way of the Freedom Charter in 1955? Was it for this unsafe
and violent society that our mothers marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August
1956?

The Bible as well as our own African norms and values teach us to respect
human life, dignity and property. They teach us to treat our neighbours'
children as ours. Our guiding principles of ubuntu/botho provide that the young
should respect their elders, regardless of whether these are their biological
parents or not. These same principles decree that men should honour, respect
and protect their womenfolk and girl children.

The society we live in at the moment is generally making a mockery of all
these teachings and more. Rather than have compassion for the poor and the most
vulnerable, we have cases reported of public servants that steal child support
and other social grants for their own greedy purposes. Rather than get them in
touch with those with the means to help them out, we read stories of people
that take advantage of the elderly and people with disabilities.

What has our world come to?

When we were growing up, even in the midst of apartheid misrule, we knew
that we could count on the protection of any male adult should the need ever
arise. Nowadays not only is this fact in doubt, we in fact, have no choice but
to educate our little girls from a very early age to run very fast if an adult
stranger ever tries to be nice.

In the good old days, the main reason our houses had to have doors was so
that wild animals would not stray inside while we slept peacefully. During the
hottest seasons of the year we would even sleep on the veranda, with the least
worry in the world that other people were monitoring our movements, waiting to
pounce as and when we would not be looking.

The very poor in society knew they could approach the well-off, and in
exchange at times for offering their labour, be fed and clad. The need would
never arise where they would feel the need to dispossess others of their
private means. The society that brought us up is the one for which we are
yearning. We are yearning for the time when our youth would know that
regardless of the fact that their parents may not be as educated as they are,
they are still deserving of their respect and admiration. Our youth need to
appreciate the value and benefits of old age and experience. We yearn for the
time when the doors of dialogue could be unlocked between our young and old, so
that our young get to appreciate what it is that has preserved the old to a
point where they are able to reflect on their experience.

Our country is ravaged by the scourge of HIV and AIDS. The most vulnerable
and worst affected in this regard are our youth. If the youth do not get a
grip, there is a very real possibility that whole generations could be
decimated before they reach adulthood. We call on our youth to heed the advice
of their parents and experts and to conduct themselves in responsible
fashion.

We call on the men of our country to reclaim their rightful position in
society as protectors of the very old and most vulnerable. If men take up the
challenge to influence our boys positively, then we shall be poised for a
society of young men with a positive outlook on life, boys with the utmost
respect for the moral outlook of society. Such a society will ensure we prevail
against all misdirected militancy and have our energies focused on the
reconstruction and development of this beautiful country of ours.

We call on our womenfolk to reclaim their role as the mothers and nurtures
of society. Our girl children should be dissuaded from such behaviour as drugs
and prostitution for those will only lead them to an early death. If, as women
we play our role model roles appropriately, these girls will be able to tell
that there is more to life than short-lived glamour.

As we try and work our way out of the abyss of doom and gloom that seem to
be characteristic of our current situation, it is to you all that we turn our
attention. We all know that in order that giant leaps are made, we should start
with those small baby steps. This Mass Prayer Service is one such case of baby
steps.

It was the world-renowned author, Paolo Coelho that once said if you focus
hard enough on something that you really wish to achieve, the whole universe
joins you in your hopes and wishes, and you ultimately realise those ambitions.
As we gather here today, joined as we are by His Grace, Bishop Barnabas
Lekganyane, members of the ZCC Church Council as well as our leaders from
different spheres of government, we are indeed in one mind that our country
should know and experience peace, security, tranquillity and prosperity. We
know the universe knows we truly and honestly want to see this realised. We
know the good Lord hears our prayers. And, we know, soon rather than later, we
shall overcome.

Like me, I know you are looking forward to hearing what His Grace has to
offer us today. May the Mass Prayer turn out to be the success that we all
expect it to become.

I thank you all.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, North West Provincial Government
30 September 2007