Ministers and Deputy Ministers,
Our religious leaders,
Senior officials,
Let me begin by welcoming our honoured guests and development partners, the religious leaders, for attending this first meeting of the Interfaith Working Group.
It is befitting that we are meeting at the beginning of this year given its importance in the history of our country.
Six decades ago this year compatriots from the length and breadth of our nation met in Kliptown and developed the Freedom Charter, a document that espoused a vision for a democratic, non-racial and united South Africa where all citizens would live in peace and prosperity.
The faith-based sector was at the forefront of the struggle to realise the vision of the Freedom Charter. Last year we met at the Regina Mundi Church in Soweto to celebrate 20 years of our freedom and democracy. I had the opportunity to thank religious leaders and the faith based community for the sterling role they played in the liberation of our country.
I wish to reiterate the gratitude of our people for the role you played for making us the country that we are today.
It is these historic bonds of partnership born of a collective struggle for justice that we are meeting today to reaffirm.
We have chosen "Together we move South Africa forward” as the theme for our country for the next few years. The purpose of the Working Group is to create a platform for us to join hands and work together to implement the vision for our society as outlined in the Freedom Charter and the National Development Plan.
The faith based sector plays an important role in the development of society, bringing together people and instilling important values of respect, caring, compassion and selflessness. You play an important role as in assisting us to reach many communities throughout our country. Many religious leaders alert us when there are child headed households, orphans and vulnerable children, the sick and the poor in their communities so that government can intervene.
Last year in September I announced the establishment of various Presidential Working Groups, including the Interfaith Working Group.
The purpose of the Working Groups is to promote and strengthen partnerships between government and important stakeholders in society in order to work together for development and prosperity for all.
I have convened this meeting of the Interfaith Working Group so that together we can discuss the issues that we think the Interfaith Working Group should address and the role we believe it can play in promoting the mission of building a united, non-sexist, non-racial and prosperous society.
I look forward to a fruitful meeting this morning and to a strong partnership between government and the faith based community.
I thank you.
