On Thursday, October 9, the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality will host a Faith Based Organisations Summit where delegates will elect a new council for the Ekurhuleni Religious Forum (ERF).
The summit comes after the ERF was disbanded by the metro in June after its terms of office and mandate had lapsed.
Furthermore, the structure was not fully representative of all religious formations in existence within the region of Ekurhuleni.
The newly elected council will comprise of one representative from each faith based organisation (FBO).
Subsequent to the election of the new council, the prime task of the council will be to elect the ERF’s executive committee.
According to Ekurhuleni spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, the Summit – themed “Faith Based Organisations engaged towards Social Development” – will be a shared platform for concerned clerics from various religious formations to elect a council which will usher a new vibrant ERF that will be a driving force for change in communities.
“The metro acknowledges that the task of building healthy, caring and cohesive societies does not reside with government alone, but when there is a unifying structure of various religions much can be achieved,” he said.
“Since the ERF’s inception in 2002 the faith based sector has played a critical role in social development and social cohesion in the EMM.
“This Summit will allow for the collective and unified involvement of all spiritual groupings in the improvement of the lives of ordinary citizens.”
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health and Social Development, Councillor Makhosazana Twala, will open the Summit with a presentation on innovative approaches towards the promotion and realization of interreligious harmony and cooperation.
The Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor, Clr Mondli Gungubele is expected to deliver a key note address focusing at the salient social challenges facing the EMM.
The council elections process will be presided over by the Independent Electoral Commission.
