Story thread · 2 reports / 1 sources

Call for stronger partnerships between government and the church

sanews.gov.za · 1d · first reportShare

Call for stronger partnerships between government and the church Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has called for stronger partnerships between government and faith-based organisations to address unemployment, crime, inequality, poverty, and other challenges facing South African communities. Lesufi was delivering the keynote address on behalf of Deputy President Paul Mashatile at the United Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) Southern Synod Day 2026. Held at the University of Johannesburg Soweto Campus on Sunday, Lesufi said the annual commemoration is more than an occasion for worship and fellowship, but also an opportunity to reaffirm the shared responsibility of government, churches and communities to build a society founded on justice, peace, human dignity and prayer. He drew on the philosophical principle known as “Chesterton’s Fence”, which warns against removing established institutions or practices without first understanding their purpose and value. Speaking under the them