The President and Chief Apostle, Professor Caesar Nongqunga
Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, His Excellency Senzo Mchunu
Fellow congregants
Bazalwane,
Siyanibingelela kulenkonzo ebaluleke kakhulu yokubonga.
It gives me great pleasure to participate in this international thanksgiving ceremony celebrating the noteworthy milestone of 20 years of unbreakable service by Professor Caesar Nongqunga in his dedication to the church.
The ANC has its roots in the church with some of its key leaders playing very cardinal leading roles in the church. The church played and continues to play its role with distinction in the nurturing and growth of the ANC and the South African society as a whole.
As we mark 20 years of freedom, we recall the immense contribution of the faith-based sector in the struggle for liberation. Leaders of various faiths braved apartheid tyranny and persecution as they fought side by side with the liberation movement, the ANC.
A celebration of freedom is thus a celebration of the contribution of the church as well to the struggle for freedom and democracy.
Now that we have attained our freedom, we still continue to work with the church and indeed all faiths, in the struggle for a better life for all our people.
In this regard, we also want to urge you not to separate the word of God from the daily struggles of our people.
The church as a social institution of great significance has a role to play in our society and the same applies to us as individual members.
The Son of man puts it correctly when he says "you are the light of the world, like a city set on the hill, you cannot be hidden”. These words are profound because they are an ever present reminder to all believers that the church has a role to play in society.
We are now twenty years into democracy and our democracy is founded on a very progressive constitution and supported by democratic institutions.
The religious sector should be relied upon to point out mistakes in a constructive manner and recommend solutions, without becoming permanent critics of everything that government does.
This is notwithstanding the fact that the Church has the sacred right and duty to always stand for the truth and provide the entire society with a moral compass.
That is why we value our association with the religious sector as a whole including other faiths, as we can work together to build this country.
Twenty years later, the struggle for a better life, and in particular social development, requires the participation of the faith based sector to improve the lives of our people.
We look forward to working with you in this regard, as we have done in the past.
The Church must be at the centre of all efforts aimed at the restoration of the age old values of our people which constitute the cornerstone of a caring society.
It is our firm belief that the faith based sector must lead the drive towards the restoration of Ubuntu.
It must be at church where our people first learn that 'an injury to one is an injury to all.' The Church must thus continue to inculcate in our people the spirit of human solidarity and compassion.
It is here where we must learn to love one another and help each other where we can.
We need to understand that our faith becomes meaningless if we do not make any meaningful and practical impact in the lives of the people.
In this regard, let me refer to what Saint James teaches us. He says:
"Suppose you see a brother or a sister who has no food or clothing, and you say 'Goodbye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well'?but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?"
The people must see that we are believers or men and women of faith, not by what we say but by what we do to help move society forward on a daily basis. The time to act in order to make the lives of our people better is now. And we all have a role to play in that regard
As we speak the country is marking 16 days of activism of no violence against women and children. In promoting justice and a caring society, we urge the faith based sector to participate actively in this campaign and spread the message from the churches, temples, synagogues and mosques - that South Africa should be safe for women and children.
Fellow Congregants
Compatriots, fellow believers
Around this time last year, our nation was gripped with anxiety. The founding president of the Republic, Tata Nelson Mandela was ill.
We were united as the people of South Africa in wishing him well. Hundreds of people streamed to the hospital where he was being treated in Pretoria.
It was a difficult period for the family, the nation and the world at large, as Madiba was a citizen of the world. As we near the first anniversary of his passing on 5 December, we take this opportunity yet again to thank all the people of South Africa for the love and support they showered Madiba with.
Madiba was an exceptional human being, and this was evident in the manner in which the world united in grief when they heard that he was no more.
Tata is resting in peace. Ours is to continue building this beautiful country that he, working with his comrades in leadership, fought so hard to liberate.
We urge all our people to participate in commemorations of Madiba with the dignity that befits this great national hero, as we did when we laid him to rest last year.
BaPhostoli, mangibonge kakhulu ukuthi nisimemile ukuze sizogubha lomcimbi omuhle kangaka noMphostoli omkhulu ubaba uNongqunga kanye nebandla lonke.
Ibandla labaphostoli likhulu futhi libaluleke kakhulu kubantu abaningi ezweni lakithi. Libanika ithemba, libakhombise nendlela yokuphila enobungcwele nobulungiswa.
Siyanihalalisela kulomgubho. Silifisela okuhle kodwa ibandla, likhule, lidlondlobale.
Ngiyabonga.
