Date: 14/10/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Welcoming delegates to Full Gospel Church of God conference


EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, WELCOMING DELEGATES TO THE FULL GOSPEL CHURCH OF GOD IN SOUTHERN AFRICA'S SPIRITUAL CONFERENCE, Belhar, 14 October 2003

PREMIER THANKS CHURCHES FOR ROLE IN BUILDING NEW SA

As we enter our tenth year of democracy it is an opportune time to reflect on the role of churches and religion in South Africa during the period since 1994. If there was one driving force behind reconciliation and healing the wounds of the past during this time is has been our churches. They integrated our communities, they changed attitudes, they transformed themselves into institutions of the New South Africa, they reached out and bridged the divides between communities and they speeded up the process of nation-building.

It was the spirit of forgiveness preached by our churches which filled the hearts of the great leaders of our country, and which helped our people, as a whole, to cope emotionally with the transition to democracy. As we enter the second decade of democracy, our churches continue to play an important role in shaping our society, influencing government policy, and improving the lives of people in all our communities.

I want, today, to praise our churches and church leaders for the positive role they are playing in the New South Africa - often taking the lead in social upliftment projects, adult education and training, HIV/AIDs counselling and dealing with the trauma of violence against women and children in our communities.

Churches and Government both have important roles to play in ensuring social cohesion and moral regeneration, but Government only creates a policy framework and can never assume the role that churches, schools, and parents are supposed to play. Vibrant religious communities, like school communities and other institutions of civil society are the moral compass that helps us keep the social fabric together. They provide the spiritual bonds that hold together our communities plagued by crime, poverty and HIV/AIDS.

Religion is becoming an increasingly important anchor in the lives of young people who live in communities under siege from drugs, prostitution and gangsterism. When we met recently with principals from schools across the Western Cape in formulating our response to the National Department of Education's initial proposals to eliminate religious observances in our schools, one principal after the other underlined the importance of the 20 minutes or half an hour of religious observances at school assemblies as anchors in the lives of our young people - especially in our most violent communities. We received the same message from learners, parents, community leaders and religious leaders from across the spectrum.

Religion must never become a divisive issue, and I have been particularly impressed by our Western Cape schools where different models of both religion education and religious observances were already in place - before this issue came to a head - in which greater tolerance and real respect for different cultures and religions is taught. I also want to thank our religious leaders, many of whom are present here today, for taking hands with Minister Andr