Media Declaration -10 March 2011

National Religious Association for Social Development (NRASD)

Secretariat: EFSA Institute, P.O. Box 3103, Matieland 7602, South Africa

Tel: +27 (21) 880 1734 or (083) 625 1047 · Fax: +27 (21) 880 1735 · E-mail: efsa@iafrica.com

Website: www.nrasd.org.za

Media Declaration -10 March 2011

Values of a democratic South Africa based on fundamental equality of humans created by God,
not to be defined in discredited racial categories

As religious communities, our fundamental point of departure is that we are all created by God[i], not only equal, but in fact responsible for one another’s well-being. This is our true identity. We are therefore alarmed by the current political debate in South Africa in which there is an attempt to use discredited racial categories again to define the value, place and role of human beings in our society.

It would be the ultimate failure of the struggle for the liberation and dignity of all South Africans, visitors and foreigners amongst us, if we remain captive to the racial or quasi-biological concepts and categories that were used in the past to divide, oppress and exclude some people in South Africa from realising their full potential. Our new identity and our hopes for the future are based on our common destiny and our responsibility for one another.

As a religious community in South Africa we strive to build a just and equitable society, a society that cares for all its citizens, especially for those who are weak and marginalized; we wish to sustain a democratic society that respects our Constitution, the rule of law, that guards against the misuse of power, that fosters our diversity and plurality, and that promotes the role of civil society. Such a society can only be built on the shared moral values within our diverse traditions in order to build a wholesome society. This is the true challenge of national reconciliation.

Thus we must have the courage to build a common future for all South Africans – based on our true identity as being equal, according to the image of God, focussing on how we can help one another, serving one another to realize our God-given potential, seeking justice for the weak and giving hope to the destitute and the poor, so that South Africa can really be a home for all, a shining light amongst the nations of the world.

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