President Thabo Mbeki met leaders of the Dutch Reformed Church in Pretoria on Tuesday to explore common ground.
Both parties afterwards described the meeting as fruitful, with the church recommitting itself to contributing towards nation building.
Presidential spokesperson David Hlabane said Mbeki gave an assurance that the government regarded all Afrikaans-speaking citizens as South Africans and Africans.
”He reiterated that every South African counts — the future belongs to all of us,” Hlabane said.
The president stressed that the future of the country depended on all South Africans working together, regardless of race.
The hour-long meeting with leaders of the biggest Afrikaans church was held on Mbeki’s invitation at the Union Buildings in Pretoria in the morning. The church delegation was led by its moderator Coenie Burger.
The church’s director of information, Willie Botha, said the message was conveyed to Mbeki that most church members had accepted the new South Africa.
”Those who wanted to leave left and those who stayed want to help rebuild the country,” he said.
”The president referred to the church’s role in apartheid, but made the point that that was in the past and Afrikaners were part of the new South Africa.”
National reconciliation also arose as a topic of discussion, with Mbeki expressing appreciation for what had already been achieved, Botha said.
On crime and violence, the president pointed out that many South Africans lived in such poverty that they had no self-respect — leave alone respect for others.
”In this regard the churches can help. They have influence over people and can lead the process of moral regeneration,” Botha said.
The president called for communication between the government and the church to be improved, and invited church leaders to take up matters of concern with government ministers.
”We will definitely make use of this invitation,” Botha said. – Sapa