Faizel Patel – 29/03/2021
President Cyril Ramaphosa says faith-based organisations have a huge responsibility in stopping the spread of the COVID-19 virus in South Africa ahead of the Easter holidays.
Ramaphosa was addressing the nation during his weekly newsletter “From the desk of the President.”
Quoting a letter by Martin Luther nearly 500 years ago, when the bubonic plague was cutting a devastating swathe across much of Europe, Ramaphosa says faith-based organisations are vital to our national response to COVID-19.
Ramaphosa warned that mass religious gathering could lead to an influx in COVID-19 cases.
“Members of the Jewish faith are celebrating Pesach, Christians will observe Easter and Muslims will soon start the holy month of Ramadan. In many ways, the views expressed by Martin Luther five centuries ago echo the position of religious leaders in South Africa in the midst of the current epidemic.”
Ramaphosa says he had a virtual meeting with leaders of the faith community who understood and appreciated the real danger of a new wave of COVID-19 infections.
He says since the outbreak of the pandemic, religious organisations have taken proactive and positive measures to limit the spread of the disease among worshippers.
“In the light of these precautionary measures, a number of religious organisations have asked that some of the existing restrictions on the size of congregations be eased, especially as we prepare for Easter and Ramadan observances. Government is currently deliberating on these and other issues, and will make an announcement in the coming days.”
Ramaphosa says the coronavirus pandemic has not been eliminated, either in our own country or around the world adding that the threat of a third wave is eminent.
“Many countries have eased restrictions, only for there to be resurgences, necessitating the imposition of even harsher restrictions. Faced with this reality, faith communities are encouraged to innovate in the holding of congregational worship over the upcoming Easter, Passover and Ramadan as they did last year.”
Ramaphosa says large gatherings, whether religious or otherwise, have the potential to spread the virus, despite the application of measures around social distancing and sanitising adding that we need to act responsibly and cautiously.
0 Comments