Hon Deputy Speaker, when President Jacob Zuma addressed the National Presidential Religious Summit on 27 November 2008, he called on faith communities to structure themselves in all provinces so as to be inclusive and service-oriented partners with government.
He has openly embraced faith communities and proceeded to invite them to join hands with government in its sense of urgency in tackling service delivery issues that have been prioritised. After a long process of consultation, religious leaders and workers from all provinces met at the O R Tambo International Airport on 27 July 2009 where they adopted a motion for the foundation of the National Interfaith Leaders Council. This council met again on 10 August 2009 to prepare for a meeting with the President.
We wish to applaud you in absentia, Mr President, on your efforts to reach out to all sectors of our society, which has been reaffirmed at your recent meeting with this council at the Union Buildings on 11 August 2009. In this meeting the President endorsed the formation of the council and was very pleased with the appropriation of the interfaith concept as it denotes inclusivity and co-operation amongst people of faith. Religious leaders also agreed to continue to mobilise all the faith-based groups and communities to join this council at all levels.
Deputy Speaker, we welcome this faith council and hope that it will help with the moral regeneration movement programmes. Thank you. [Applause.]