Press Statement
Immediate Release
27 October 2021
“Interfaith relationships strengthen us” – Advocate Rod Solomons
Interfaith dialogue fosters respect for diversity and co-operative interchange between people of different religious beliefs. It helps us understand each other and build bridges over our differences so that we can try to live together in peace, to the best of our ability. Interfaith dialogue plays a huge role in the awareness we have of each other’s needs, preferences and spirituality and thus the fear of the unknown and ignorance are dissolvable. Cape Town’s tapestry is crafted from the mosaic of its cultural and religious differences, woven into one.
Remarkable and historically important deeds have been done by people of all faiths in South Africa. In Cape Town, we have seen how people of different faiths stood together and assisted each other during slavery, during apartheid and in fighting for our democratic rights. The Credible alternative 1st Movement (CA1st) says that now is the not the time to let go of something so valuable. In fact, we should develop and broaden our understanding of each other and do all we can to build on the foundations that were built before all of us were born. Not only should we strengthen these existing ties, but we should encourage, and actively learn about faiths that are not familiar to us at all.
According to Adv. Rod Solomons, CA1st’s mayoral candidate “it is disquieting to learn that the outgoing Mayor of Cape Town created a ‘Religious Leaders Task Team’ (RLTT) that is not representative of the broad interfaith community in Cape Town. We cannot support a City-appointed entity that doesn’t, and won’t attempt to represent all faiths. This is illogical and potentially harmful to interfaith connections in Cape Town.”
The Ca1st supports the Parliament of the World’s Religions’ overall theme for the year, “Opening our hearts to the world: Compassion in action” because it resonates with our vision of Cape Town becoming a ‘Humane, Caring, Can-Do and Entrepreneurial city’. We fully support Rev. Berry Behr the chairperson of the Cape town INTERFAITH Initiative who hosted this dialogue and said they are working hard to find “our own solutions to the challenges of today, and we find these answers in the everyday heroes who are working tirelessly for the greater good”
“If I am elected Mayor, I will recognise and support the Cape Town Interfaith Initiative because it encompasses all faith communities. It’s shocking to see the outgoing mayor of Cape Town terminate the City’s relationship with such initiatives,” says Solomons.
CA1st’s Manifesto clearly states, “We want, in word and deed, to be respectful of different perspectives and to engage in respectful dialogue. We seek and gain understanding and resolution of difference, not a deepening of divisions”.
Issued by: Zahra Ismail, CA1st Media Liaison Officer
Contact: 0742913361