KwaZulu-Natal Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Finance, Ms Ina Cronjé and MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo spent time today in Pietermaritzburg sharing views with prominent senior religious leaders from different religious formations.
The two MECs were representing the provincial government in a meeting that was called by the Premier’s office. Religious leaders from different faith groups were invited to a social dialogue with government.
Addressing the church leaders at this meeting, Cronjé said that this way the beginning of a social dialogue with all faith groups because this government wants an open communication with all religions. “We want you to work with the government as partners to establish the kind of society that we all want” said Cronjé.
“This government envisages a permanent forum of all religions in the province, where we all meet on a regular basis to share ideas. It can be once or twice a year. However the dialogue will not be restricted to these forums because the lines of communication are open every day” continued Cronjé.
Cronjé said that the province will use agriculture as a platform to fight hunger including the “One Home One Garden” initiative as well as the upliftment of the emerging commercial farmers.
“Churches, temples and mosques have access to the people from all walks of life. Together we must make sure that people benefit from all government programmes” she said.
Dr Dhlomo said that “government needs this partnership to be strong. We can not have a country where people rely solely on food parcels as long as they live. Therefore we are encouraging gardens so that people can have food as food parcels will only be a temporal emergency measure” he said.
The religious institutions can also play a big role in the initiative against cervical and breast cancer. “We are visiting all our communities testing women for breast and cervical to prevent death. It can be avoided if it is early diagnosed” said Dr Dhlomo.
Religious leaders were also given an opportunity to engage the government and to raise their concerns. They were given an opportunity to choose the day that is suitable for the Annual Prayer Provincial Day. The leaders expressed appreciation for the opportunity that government offered to them.
“We would like to apologise where we omitted some religious leaders to this meeting. We are still in a process of putting together a reliable database of contacts” said Cronjé.
Enquiries:
Rev. M S Khumalo
Cell: 083 633 9404
Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
13 August 2009
