Mmusi Maimane writes an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa about opening up places of worship and allowing South Africans to practise their faith in a way that's both meaningful and practical.
Dear Mr President
I write to you as a father, a Christian and a fellow South African at a time in which our country is experiencing collective angst about our current sufferings and about our uncertain future. We are mourning both the loss of loved ones during this pandemic and the loss of our freedoms, livelihoods and jobs.
Our way of life has been turned on its head by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Facing this, many South Africans are still unable to find solace and comfort in fellowship and community ordinarily found within places of worship. 80% of South Africans self-classify as holding some form of a religious faith, and for many that core anchor – and the support structure it offers - has been stripped away right at a time when the seas have become enormously rough.
Precautions required to stop the spread of the Covid-19 virus are vital and every single South African must adhere to it at all times. However, as you well know, this must be balanced with the need for citizens to regain a semblance of normality in their everyday lives. Freedoms must only be curtailed insofar as absolutely necessary.
'Loosen the regulations'
In this light, and on behalf of many religious leaders, worshippers and congregants, I appeal to you to loosen the regulations that limit the number of attendees to places of worship at any given time. As our nation suffers and mourns, it is not the political system that will comfort and nurse the souls of so many. Rather, it is the church; it is the community of faith that they belong to which helps one to navigate through these difficult times.
Your decision to restrict church attendance is unworkable in the given circumstances. While I understand we cannot open to full capacity for all churches, allowing an increased 50% of venue capacity is manageable. Sanitising, wearing of masks, washing of hands and following of all health protocols will continue to be implemented diligently. I truly believe if a relationship of trust is established between the church and the state, responsibility will be taken on both ends.
I was recently onboard a Kulula flight between Johannesburg and Cape Town. If hundreds of passengers can sit jampacked on a two-hour flight and still adhere to all health protocols, surely a place of worship can too? This is where we must take a rational approach to the enormous value that faith imparts on the lives of most South Africans – with places of worship at the integral centre.
The church has played and continues to play a significantly important role in our nation.
Church's role during Apartheid
During the dark days of Apartheid, it was the Catholic Church that built schools in townships, so that children like myself could circumvent Bantu education and increase their chances in life. Many missionary schools were instrumental in educating people like Nelson Mandela.
The church has, on many occasions, risen to the occasion where the state has failed. In healthcare, churches built hospitals, such as the Vincent Pallotti Hospital, where my daughter was born late last year. During the hard lockdown last year, many churches reached out and fed the poor. Even your own organisation, the ANC, was birthed out of a church in Bloemfontein over 100 years ago.
The church has produced formidable leaders over the years, from Beyers Naude to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and has been at the forefront of reconciliation.
Today, I truly believe South Africa can benefit from a church that is alive to our nation, and roaring to go.
To be frank, it often feels like the government does not give credit where credit is due as it relates to the church. I am aware that charlatans will abuse the church as a money-making scheme, and will engage in false examples of resurrections, snake feeding and insect repellent spraying masquerading as genuine faith.
I wish to remind you, Mr President, this is not the church as a whole, and to use such outlier examples would be to discredit the overwhelming good work that is done by the church.
As we approach the religious periods of Easter and Ramadan, your government is presented with an opportunity to work alongside religious communities in South Africa. I ask you to be bold and exercise faith in our citizens to do the right thing of ensuring safety within places of worship.
In good faith, Mr President, we ask to open up our places of worship and let South Africans practise their faith in a way that's both meaningful and practical.
- Mmusi Maimane is Chief Activist of the One South Africa Movement.
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