1 ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TSHWANE, DR GWEN RAMOKGOPA AT THE NATIONAL INTERFAITH LEADERS COUNCIL – GAUTENG PROVINCIAL LAUNCH, 05 FEBRUARY 2010. Programme Director; Gauteng Co-ordinator, Bishop Zondo; Chief Whip of the African National Congress, Mathole Motshekga; Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-Principal of UNISA, Prof David Mosoma; Leaders of different faith based organisation from the length and breadth of South Africa; Members of the business community; Members of the media; Ladies and gentlemen; Good Morning, Dumelang! I am delighted to be here with you this morning to celebrate the provincial launch of the Gauteng Interfaith Leaders Council. This launch is special because it is a confirmation of the role that faith and religion can play in achieving moral regeneration, social cohesion and nation building in our country. 1 2 Early last year, President of the Republic, Jacob Zuma, made a call to religious community for a need to partner with Government in order to establish a cohesive and caring society including an enabling environment for sustainable development. I am delighted that this call has indeed been taken seriously. The launch today is a confirmation of a bold response to the president’s call. South Africa finds itself challenges by a number of morally complex issues that affect us all. All these issues require careful consideration, rather than resolutions by appeal to tradition, prejudice or superstition. Much blood has been spilt in the attainment of freedom and humanity. However, blood continues to be spilt through some of the violent crimes that is taking place within our communities. Where such violence and pain saturates our past, something must be done to ask forgiveness of God and the people who were harmed. This process not only leads to closure for those left behind, but also set the spirits of the victims free so that souls can rest in peace. This also gives us an opportunity to pray and intercede so that we are led by God and the ancestors to find ways of intervening and resolving these challenges facing our country. It is time for faith and religion to take its rightful place in our communities and instil a sense of discipline and responsibility amongst all. 2 3 We welcome the launch of a structure like the Gauteng Interfaith Leaders Council. This structure must transcend political affiliations, be inclusive of all faiths, and be geared towards serving the interest of all people, black and white united in diversity. It is structures like this one that brings all of us together, regardless of our culture, languages race, colour or creed, in an attempt to provide a platform for us all to realize that we share similar experiences, a similar past and similar pain caused by apartheid and racial segregation. Churches provide communities with infrastructure for communities to meet where their situated and help resolve many problems that we face in our country. Churches should be used other than Sundays for communal development, this include early childhood development. On the days that churches are not used, they should open their doors by contributing towards educating our children particularly during stages of early childhood development. I wish all of you well, we as a municipality will welcome any opportunity to work with yourselves in order to help solve many of the social ills we experience in our communities today. 3 4 With the head office being in Tshwane, you have our support at all times. I thank you. 4 .