At least 8‚000 people gathered at Durban’s Growthpoint Kings Parks stadium on Sunday to join President Jacob Zuma to pray for rain‚ peaceful local government elections and national unity.
The national prayer day‚ organised by the Department of Social Development‚ resembled an ANC rally with thousands of attendees sporting ANC T-shirts in stark contrast to a few hundred congregants dressed in white‚ barely filling up one section of the stadium.
Arriving to a roaring applause‚ Zuma laughed and waved to cheering supporters.
Earlier‚ ANC supporters cheered when they spotted deputy agriculture‚ forestry and fisheries minister Bheki Cele.
Zuma is expected to deliver the keynote address after interfaith prayers by religious leaders.
According to the Presidency‚ the prayers are for national unity‚ social cohesion rain and the promotion of water conservation under the persistent drought conditions.
“This year’s celebrations will also reflect on tragic events of last year in parts of Durban and Johannesburg where some foreign nationals‚ especially those from the African continent‚ were tragically attacked. The prayer service will further promote unity and peaceful co-existence and encourage communities to continue fighting xenophobia‚ racism and any form of intolerance‚” it said.
Durban prayer day event resembles ANC rally
At least 8‚000 people gathered at Durban’s Growthpoint Kings Parks stadium on Sunday to join President Jacob Zuma to pray for rain‚ peaceful local government elections and national unity.
The national prayer day‚ organised by the Department of Social Development‚ resembled an ANC rally with thousands of attendees sporting ANC T-shirts in stark contrast to a few hundred congregants dressed in white‚ barely filling up one section of the stadium.
Arriving to a roaring applause‚ Zuma laughed and waved to cheering supporters.
Earlier‚ ANC supporters cheered when they spotted deputy agriculture‚ forestry and fisheries minister Bheki Cele.
Zuma is expected to deliver the keynote address after interfaith prayers by religious leaders.
According to the Presidency‚ the prayers are for national unity‚ social cohesion rain and the promotion of water conservation under the persistent drought conditions.
“This year’s celebrations will also reflect on tragic events of last year in parts of Durban and Johannesburg where some foreign nationals‚ especially those from the African continent‚ were tragically attacked. The prayer service will further promote unity and peaceful co-existence and encourage communities to continue fighting xenophobia‚ racism and any form of intolerance‚” it said.