Churches, govt join forces

2004-07-20 20:10

Cape Town - Religious leaders and the government agreed on Tuesday to closer co-operation on poverty, unemployment, HIV/Aids and the social security system.

Thirty religious leaders of all faiths met Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya at Bishopscourt in Cape Town, Skweyiya's ministry said in a statement.

The meeting was the idea of the minister and Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane.

The ministry said the parties made a commitment to meet in future to discuss co-operation between faith-based organisation and the government, following German and American practice.

A pilot project of co-operation with the Western Cape government was also discussed.

All parties agreed that future meetings should be held in all provinces to gain more consensus.

- SAPA