South Africans may see a rejection of politics as usual under the presidency of Jacob Zuma, church leader Ray McCauley said on Thursday.
Zuma had shown that ”real achievement” did not come through the defamation of one’s political opponents and using power to advance one’s own individual will, the pastor said in a statement.
”One of the praiseworthy elements of Zuma’s acceptance speech is the call not to allow partisanship to blunt our national consciousness.
”There is an unmistakable desire on his part to engage others in dialogue,” said McCauley, referring to Zuma’s acceptance speech on being elected president of the Republic in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
McCauley wished Zuma goodwill and said the church hoped to work with him and all South Africans to tackle the country’s challenges.
”As the senior pastor of Rhema Bible Church and president of the International Federation of Christian Churches, I would like congratulate you on your election as President of the Republic,” he said.
The Rhema pastor said he would be praying for Zuma.
In a controversial move ahead of the elections, the Rhema Church invited Zuma to address its Sunday morning congregation, reportedly causing some congregants to leave in protest.
The church, however, defended the move saying the church was ”non-partisan” and that Zuma’s visit was to ”minister” to him.
”Rhema believes the visit by Zuma and his delegation gave the church an opportunity to minister in a significant way to the leader of the ruling party and his colleagues,” said spokesperson Vusi Mona at the time. — Sapa