The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) has also refuted claims that it’s given its support to The Majlis calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to relax the national lockdown regulations prohibiting large groups from attending daily prayers.

Attorney Zehir Omar, who is representing The Majlis, apparently told presenter Fasiha Hassen from Islamic radio station Channel Islam International (CII) that he had the support of the ACDP and the Sabah Hindu movement in South Africa for the request.

Omar sent a letter to the Presidency threatening to approach the courts in a bid to challenge the lockdown regulations.

The Presidency denied the request saying the measures taken by Ramaphosa to curtail the Coronavirus is a concern for all South Africans irrespective of which religious community they belong to.

Speaking to Radio Islam, the ACDP’s Kenneth Meshoe says he did write to Ramaphosa on behalf of some churches requesting permission to be allowed to continue with their feeding schemes and not the opening of mosques and churches.

“I support that because that is working in line with what government is doing. But we did not call and I did not support the blanket opening of all churches and all mosques so that people can meet and pray and have their services anytime they want. It would be irresponsible to do something like that.”

Meshoe says he supports Ramaphosa’s decision for a national lockdown.

“It is important that if we want to win the battle over COVID-19 that we all cooperate with government. Churches and Mosques, Christians, Muslims people of other religions and faiths, it is important that we be seen to be working together to fight this common enemy.”

On Monday, the South African Hindu Maha Sabha told Radio Islam that they also have not given their support to The Majlis calling for the lockdown regulations prohibiting large groups from attending daily prayers to be relaxed.

Faizel Patel 

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)