SA a country of God - Zuma

2008-11-27 21:24

Johannesburg - South Africa is a country based on the rules and principles of God, said ANC president Jacob Zuma in Kempton Park on Thursday.

The preamble of the constitution "calls upon God to help us" said Zuma at the National Presidential Religious Leaders conference.

"When all of us take office in government... we raise our right hand and indeed pronounce... so help me God. I believe no-one can argue South Africa is not based on the principles of God," said Zuma.

Zuma addressed hundreds of delegates dressed in a sea of clerical collars, African traditional outfits, Islamic skull caps and even a Jesus baseball cap.

(One delegate had his laptop open to a screen saver photograph showing him shaking hands with Zuma.)

"The Bible says pray for those who are in government. I believe we must go beyond that. You must advise and criticise if there are things we do that are not in keeping with the principles of God."

Zuma said religion needed to find its identity in South Africa.

Moral values

"I believe the time has come for the religious fraternity to identify its role and place in our constitutional democracy.

"I have a feeling that we have not done so from the religious fraternity, therefore there are issues we do not deal with that we ought to deal with.

Zuma detailed the long history of the ANC and its association with the church.

He said often the moral basis of a society or person was that they must fear or respect something beyond their existence, like God, ancestors or other human beings.

"Those who do not believe in God or ancestors can still derive their moral values from respect for the worth and dignity of others.

"Thus moral and ethical values are binding on all and sundry regardless of their beliefs.

Earlier, the ANC's chaplain general Reverend Vukile Mehana told Zuma he must feel "safe".

"You must know that you are safe. As we prayed for your predecessor, we will continue to pray for you. Don't shake. The God, your ancestors, are here."

After Zuma spoke, religious leaders representing each province stood up to give their messages of support.

An Mpumulanga representative told Zuma religious leaders would go to their communities and ensure they "voted correctly because you care and you have compassion and are committed to bettering the lives of god's people".

An Eastern Cape representative said: "Msholozi is a burning bush which will never be consumed."

He said the workings of God were present during the Nicholson judgment.

'Religion protecting the ANC'

"He [Zuma] was being burnt from all sides but the leaves became greener and greener."

Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Chris Nicholson invalidated corruption charges brought against Zuma.

Nicholson held that the State's decision to prosecute Zuma was unlawful because it had failed to take representations from him.

The ruling is being appealed in court on Friday.

On Thursday, the Eastern Cape religious representative also said religion was the "midwife" of the ANC.

"We are here as the religious leaders as the midwives to protect the ANC who is the baby," he said.

- SAPA