South African faith groups in KwaZulu-Natal are circulating the following interfaith statement to commemorate former President Nelson Mandela’s birthday on July 18 and pray for peace for the nation, given current circumstances in the country.
Joint Statement by the Religious Leaders of KwaZulu-Natal Following a Meeting with Provincial Government Held at the City Hall on the 09 July 2013
We, the leaders of different faiths based organisations, following a meeting with the leadership of the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal led by the Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize have decided to issue this statement with an aim of mobilizing the people of KwaZulu-Natal and leaders of all faiths to join hands and pray for our former President Nelson Mandela, for the family and for the nation.
Although we are aware of his critical condition, we pray that he is at peace, the family at peace and the whole nation at peace.
The resilience throughout his stay in hospital once again demonstrates his perseverance in the face of adversity – a remarkable trait of Madiba’s extraordinary life.
We have fond memories as the people of KwaZulu-Natal of Tata Madiba as he exercised his first democratic vote in Inanda, here in our Province, and reported to the fallen fathers of our liberation that their people were free at last.
Before his long incarceration, he spent the last days of his freedom here in this Province. The Capture Site in Howick will forever stand as a monument in memory of a man whose commitment to the emancipation of his people mobilized all of humanity to rise up against a crime against humanity itself – apartheid.
Despite his critical condition, we stand up today to salute a man who strode with grace and elegance among the great statesmen of our time and commanded an exalted place for us people in the community of nations.
We respectfully bow our heads in honour of a leader who was among us in KwaZulu-Natal during the darkest days of political violence, and persuaded the people of this province to throw pangas, guns and knobkierries into the sea and find each other in peace as brothers and sisters despite conflicting political inclinations.
During his years as a leader after his long period of imprisonment Madiba became a shining beacon of hope for not only the downtrodden of the world, but also a living symbol of the triumph of the human spirit against adversity. Tata Madiba deservedly won the Nobel Peace Prize and went on to lead South Africa as the country’s first truly democratically-elected President with dignity, honesty and integrity.
The world will always cherish the spirit of forgiveness Madiba awakened when he assured his former persecutors that South Africa indeed belonged to all who live in it, and that everyone could be assured of their right to freedom and security within the borders of this beautiful land. As he grew in stature from prisoner number 466/64 to President of the Republic, he became a father figure for not only his immediate and extended family, but also for all South Africans and indeed the whole world. During the past few years the world has watched with growing concern and bated breath as our icon’s life has became increasingly frail and illness has taken its toll on this previously robust fighter.
It is for these reasons that as religious leaders, working with the provincial government of KwaZulu-Natal, we are putting together a series of prayers and activities in honour of Tata Nelson Mandela. The prayers will lead up to the main Mandela Prayer Service Day at the Mandela Capture Site in Howick on the 18th July at 10h00.
Importantly, the weekly prayers are aimed at celebrating his legacy and his values. In very trying times of affliction and threat of national moral fiber disintegration – where the values, ethics and principles are compromised – a call for prayer gives hope of healing and continued efforts for moral regeneration, RDP of the soul, reconciliation, peace, justice and a spirit of social cohesion.
- Mandela stands for forgiveness and reconciliation. It is imperative to accept one another and seek to continue to be at peace with ourselves and the nation.
- Mandela stands for reconciliation and peace for all;
- Mandela stands for the rule of law;
- Mandela stands for liberation of all people in South Africa black and white, men and women;
- Mandela stands for human dignity, human freedom (speech, association, movement, expression and choice) and human development;
- Mandela stands for transparency, accountability, integrity and respect among the peoples.
As religious institutions we are leading a call for provincial prayers inspired by the values and principles which former President Nelson Mandela has held up with integrity. We ask churches, temples, synagogues and mosques in KwaZulu Natal to:
- Pray for President Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela while cherishing and emulating the values and principles he so steadfastly and passionately stands for.
- Pray for and act in accordance to transparency, accountability principles and the rule of law as espoused by our wonderful constitution;
- Pray for and act in ways that deepen democracy and freedom for all at all levels, structures and systems of our society;
- Pray and act in ways that promote racial reconciliation and social cohesion;
- Pray for and remind and urge each other to achieve the principles stipulated in the Freedom Charter.
We request your religious group to make special prayers each of the coming 4 weekends. For each of the coming 4 weekends could you please pray thanking God for the life of Mandela, especially the following values he stands for:
- Justice,
- Equity,
- Compassion and
- Healing.
We also ask that in each of the coming 4 weekends you spend 67 minutes reaching out to someone to exercise: Week 1 – justice, Week 2 – reconciliation, Week 3 – compassion and Week 4 – healing. Details of other activities will be announced through the media.
Finally, as religious leaders we commend the Presidency for keeping the nation well informed about the condition of Tata Mandela.
Issued by Religious Leaders from the following religious organizations:
- Anglican Church
- Lutheran Church
- Methodist Church
- Roman Catholic Church
- United Congregational Church of Southern Africa
- Diakonia Council of Churches
- KwaZulu Regional Christian Council
- Midlands Christian Council
- Thukela-Amajuba-Mzinyathi Regional Christian Council
- YMCA
- African Enterprise
- Presbyterian Church
- KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
- KwaZulu-Natal Inter-Religious Council
- KwaZulu-Natal Inter-Religious Youth Council
- World Conference on Religions for Peace