Service delivery group set up

2009-07-28 17:04

Johannesburg - Church leaders have established a council to help the government with service delivery problems, a statement said on Tuesday.

Some 20 religious leaders and the Chief Whip of Parliament, Mathole Motshekga, on Monday attended a meeting convened by Pastor Ray McCauley of Rhema Ministries.

"Religious leaders have decided to form an action based structure named the National Interfaith Leaders Council (NILC)," the council said in a statement.

"The establishment of this council is also in response to President Jacob Zuma's call for the religious community to partner with government to establish a cohesive and caring society."

McCauley said at the meeting there had been a lack of "a strong and proactive religious leadership structure to respond to the social challenges of the poor and vulnerable".

"The meeting offered to assist the government in intervening in the rampant leadership disputes fuelling the current protests and lawlessness in various communities."

The NILC requested a meeting with Zuma to discuss its "visions and programmes of work".

Service delivery protests took place in no fewer than 20 towns across the country in past weeks, with citizens complaining about bad municipal services and corruption among municipal officials.

- SAPA