DURBAN - The KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council (KZNCC) has refuted claims that it wants the government to establish a fund to support religious leaders who are struggling to pay their bills because of the ban on all gatherings.
“We would like to set the record straight, the tweet circulating about us wanting the government to establish a fund to support church leaders is fake news. The KZN Premier met with the KZNCC and KZN Church Heads of churches on Thursday. There was no discussion about setting aside a Government fund for Church leaders,” read a statement from the council.
According to the council, a team of 14 church leaders held a meeting with the KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala. The leaders were representative of a broad coalition of churches, denominations and networks which are part of the KZN Covid 19 Churches Respond.
“Among the issues that were discussed included an update on what the Church in this province is doing in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. The proposal for gradual opening of places of worship. Proposal for the clergy (pastors/priests/ Revs) to be designated as essential service workers and a partnership between the church and government in distributing relief items in communities,” said Bishop Bheki Buthelezi, Chairperson of KwaZulu Regional Christian Council (KRCC)
“The Premier agreed to open regular consultations with the church as we jointly respond to Covid 19. He further promised to forward the issue of the gradual opening of places of worship to the National Command Council for consideration as there are ongoing consultations on the opening of places of worship. We hope this will yield positive results going forward,” he said.
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