The National Interfaith Leaders Council (NILC) has been established on 27 July 2009 and its founding structure, as agreed upon during consultations with religious leaders from all faiths, makes provision for its rollout to provincial, district and local level.
The national leadership of the council has requested that provincial interfaith councils be launched as part of its objective to enhance its partnership with government in pursuit of creating a cohesive and caring society in which the value of each citizen is measured by our common humanity.
An invitation was extended to religious leaders from all faiths in the Frances Baard District as well as the ANC`s Commission on Religious and Traditional Affairs (CRATA) representatives from the districts to an information session held on Thursday, 22 April 2010 in the William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley.
The meeting, attended by 60 religious leaders, was chaired by MEC for Health Mr Mxolisi Sokatsha, Provincial Chair of the ANC-Crata. The meeting was called to share information on the genesis of NILC, its history, current status and to look at how this initiative can be rolled out in the province. The information shared by the chairperson on the role of faith communities and the ANC government’s commitment to continue working closely with the religious sector as well as the informative presentation on NILC was received with enthusiasm and also welcomed by all the religious leaders that attended the session. It was unanimously agreed that a steering committee, representative of all faith groupings be established with the following clear mandate:
* Oversee and effect the rollout of NILC structures up to the level of wards throughout the province i.e. PILC (provincially), DILC (district), LILC (local) and WILC (wards)
* Ensure that the structures to be established are inclusive
* Introduce the structure to the Premier of the province
The following members to serve on the steering committee:
* Christian Bishop I Mojakwe and Bishop Adoons (African Independent Churches), Bishop Cross (SACC), Reverend A Dywilli (Pentecostals)
* Rastafarai: James Mockson
* Youth: Justice Mnyobo
* Muslim: Moulana Adam Feltman (NC Muslim Ulama Council)
* Traditional Healers: Mr J Cele
* Provincial CRATA: MEC M Sokathsa, Revs. G Pieterse, H van Wyk, C Hendricks, K Gouws (Pixley), BM Maribe (Frances Baard), Fr G van Staden(Siyanda) Ms A Witbooi (Namaqua) and L Motlhaping(JTG).
The Hindu and Jewish faith groupings will be approached to serve on the committee in order to ensure that there is inclusivity right from the beginning. They are:
* Hindu: Mr Veejay Panday (Will be approached to serve on committee)
* Jewish: Mr Horwitz.
The steering committee will meet on Wednesday, 28 April 2010 to plot the way forward.
A presentation on the government’s campaign of voluntary counselling and testing (HCT) which will be launched in the province on Friday, 30 April 2010 was made by Dr D Theys (Acting HOD of Dept of Health). This presentation evoked a lively debate and religious leaders present at the meeting unanimously committed themselves to support the campaign.
Enquiries:
Andrid Scholtz
Tel: 053 830 2000
Cell: 0824479696
E-mail: ascholtz@ncpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health, Northern Cape Provincial Government
23 April 2009
Source: Department of Health, Northern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.northern-cape.gov.za/)
