President Jacob Zuma today met the National Interfaith Leaders Council (NILC) at the Presidential Guest House here in Pretoria.
The purpose of the meeting was to introduce the NILC and discuss how it can possibly partner with government in improving the lives of South Africans, especially the poor.
The NILC is a mass-based group of religious leaders from across the country which reflects all the major faiths practiced in South Africa. Membership is based on a direct and individual basis.
The NILC offered to Government the possibility of being a conduit to the people on some of the programmes that Government is already doing. Besides the social delivery service that the NILC leadership offered, the President challenged the interfaith leadership to take up the battle for the moral education of our society.
Amongst the variety of issues the President discussed with the religious leaders was the question of corruption. "We will use our political authority and the avenues provided by the law to deal with this matter very firmly. It may well be that in the process we may lose friends and comrades but we have to do what is right for our country," he said.
Head of the NILC Secretariat Dr John Lamola said: "The meeting affirms the President on his expressed and demonstrated readiness to act against corruption in government."
The NILC's signature theme is Operation Thuma Mina (Send Me), expressing its desire to reach the people where government may not be able to. President Zuma welcomed the NILC's desire to collaborate with his administration in improving the lives of South Africans.
Enquiries:
Vincent Magwenya
Cell: 072 715 0024
Issued by: The Presidency
11 August 2009
