Communities should learn to embrace harmony

ON the issue that is currently at stake about the proposed religious gathering of the Shembe Church at their church in Birdswood, one cannot keep quiet but raise concern about this continuous misunderstanding and intolerance pertaining to cultures, religion and languages.

I have raised this matter with the CLR Commission to intervene since I feel it’s my duty as a citizen of this municipality and also part of the council residing in this community.

I have witnessed the exchange of strong feelings and comments when different groups are talking past each other instead of talking to each other about this issue.

It’s a very disturbing matter if a politician can utter words and also conclude that the event should be accommodated in a local stadium or alternative venue because of the reasons he has stated.

I firstly feel that he should take time to understand the history behind the existence of this church in the said area and also check the critical importance of having this particular event in this area other than the venues he is proposing.

Not ignoring the issue of nature or environmental aspects, one should also note that the same Birdswood surburb was established in a natural forest, where I strongly believe the environment was also disturbed – but did anyone comment on that?

I am also aware that there were indigenous communities who were forcefully removed from the area and the graves were dug out, which is also a sensitive issue if we had to look back on who is right and who wrong in this dilemma.

I wish all parties could have a platform where everybody can vent their frustration and people should start embracing our co-existence and start getting along with each other and be tolerant of religious and cultural practice,

This will indeed be what our late former State President Mandela fought for.

He did not fight for each race to be supreme to the other because right now this seems to be a racial or political issue.

Politicians, religious and traditional leaders should sit together and deliberate on these issues as it shows right now that we are only pretending to tolerate one another.

I hope this issue is resolved soon.

BHEKANI THABEDE

CLR COMMISSION-community councillor