Religious leaders seek truce before SONA

File picture: Kopano Tlape, Department of Communications

File picture: Kopano Tlape, Department of Communications

Published Jan 29, 2015

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Johannesburg - A group of interfaith religious leaders have been hard at work for the past two months to try to restore order and broker a truce between political parties, to prevent a paralysis of Parliament in the run-up to next month’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

The move by the various leaders was prompted by last year’s unprecedented chaos and disruptions in the House.

National Interfaith Council of South Africa leaders, led by Pastor Ray McCauley of the Rhema Church, as well as Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein and Archbishop Joseph Tlhagale of the Catholic Church, had a meeting with Speaker Baleka Mbete on Sunday, her office has confirmed.

The group is also expected to meet parties next week to finalise an agreement on reconciliation before SONA.

Those who attended the meeting have been asked not to discuss the details.

But not all the political parties attended the meeting, with only the DA, IFP, African Christian Democratic Party, National Freedom Party and African Independent Congress present.

A member of the council closely involved in the behind-the-scenes interactions said religious leaders could not just sit back while there were “threats” from parties like the EFF.

They felt they needed to intervene, he said.

“It’s big stuff. It’s the religious leaders’ council led by Ray McCauley. After what happened last year in Parliament and the threats from different parties, they felt they wanted to play a reconciliatory role.”

 

He said their interactions with Parliament was at a high level and involved Mbete as well as Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. He added that they had met with parties in Cape Town, Joburg and Pretoria.

“The point is to bring the parties together. We have made huge strides in that we’re close to working with all the parties. Plus there will be a meeting with all political parties next week, possibly on Tuesday, and there will be other meetings with the EFF,” the official said.

He pointed out that through their interactions with the EFF, the party seemed to be buying into their call.

“I can tell you it wasn’t easy, and we worked hard this past December. But we are at a place where we’re finding they (the parties) are finding each other.

“We’ve been working under the radar for two months on this. We really believe that we cannot allow Parliament to be rendered dysfunctional.

“If Parliament was rendered dysfunctional, it would undermine the constitution. And if you don’t have a constitution, you don’t have a democracy. Democracy will be paralysed and, literally, people can do whatever they like, and you don’t want to get to that point. So that’s the basis of our involvement,” he explained.

Mbete’s spokeswoman, Mandlakazi Sigcawu, confirmed that the grouping met with the Speaker on Sunday.

“They requested the meeting with all political parties and the deputy president. They are concerned about what happened, and I think this is about how they can be part of the solution. The Speaker welcomes the engagement,” she said.

EFF secretary-general Godrich Gardee would not be drawn into commenting.

The Star

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