Faith leaders from a representative spectrum of religious communities in the Province met with Premier Rasool and Minister Dowry under the facilitation of Archbishop Ndungane at Bishopscourt on Tuesday the 25th. The purpose of the meeting was to respond to Cabinet’s call for the mobilisation of the Province’s faith resources in response to the drought, fires and floods affecting all of us.
From April 2004 to 18 January 2005 there were 376 disasters [fire and flood] affecting 12 351 families and displacing 52 283 people with 45 deaths in the Western Cape. These took place in many poor parts of the city of Cape Town and rural areas such as Grabouw, Khayamnandi, Clanwilliam, De Doorns, Doringbaai and Bredasdorp.
2500 farm worker families are already suffering the repercussions of the drought. Some 6000 families will be affected if no rain falls by June. R9 million is already being utilised to get food to animals. The application to President to declare large parts of the Province as disaster areas will unlock a further R26 million for fodder to June. Municipalities are transporting water for human consumption on farms. In the absence of rain by June the Province will have to cull two thirds of its livestock.
The steering committee established at Tuesday’s meeting and representing both Government and all the major faith groups met with a mandate to take this urgent long term initiative forward yesterday afternoon; with the following outcomes:
- The theme selected is: ‘A Province united in the Face of Drought, Fires and Floods: a Call to Prayer and Change’. It was agreed that prayer alone was not sufficient as we should also take responsibility for the changes that we must make to our lifestyles, water use patterns, the crops and livestock we farm, our resource planning and related issues.
- A multi-faith service to start this course of action for the Province on Thursday the 3rd February in Piketberg, one of the worst affected areas - this will take place from 10h00 to 12h00. [Venue being finalised.]
- To begin from Thursday the 3rd a daily observance of a minute of prayer at noon each day:
- The religious communities and affected Government Departments of Agriculture, Social Services and Poverty Alleviation, Local Government and Housing and Environmental Affairs and Development Planning will develop a joint ongoing campaign of drought, fire and flood awareness, mobilisation and information focussing on faith communities.
- To call for continued patience from farm owners in the difficult decisions that they face as to selling farms, culling stock and or letting workers go and for farm communities to recognise the need for solidarity.
- To support Government’s research into desalination, alternative aquifer systems and crop changes.
- All faith communities are asked to focus their sermons and teachings on their upcoming holy days on the above and to assist in mobilising their communities.
- To call on business and other donors, including religious groups to support initiatives such as that from Oasis Asset Management who will distribute 1000 food parcels with the Premier to farm workers around Piketberg next Thursday.
- A request to the media to continue providing information on water saving and awareness and to support this programme.
1. for unity, compassion and sharing,
2. for the drought to be alleviated,
3. for those most affected by the drought and fires and floods [especially farm workers and owners],
4. for us to plan our water useage and future well,
5. for us to use this most precious resource with responsibility and gratitude
6. for wisdom and strength to our leaders as they guide us through this difficult time of challenge and long term change
www.capegateway.gov.za
