Pretoria - Women are usually the first line of defence in every family and play a central role in holding the family unit together and instilling good behaviour, says North West Premier Thandi Modise.
Addressing over 1 000 women gathered at the Provincial Women’s Day of Prayer at the Mmabatho Convention Centre in Mahikeng on Thursday, Modise said women could not “just sit back and fold their arms while their communities are ravished by social ills such as gender based violence, corruption and lack of respect”.
“Let us pray for the province without talking about politics. Let’s pray for good manners, dignity, trust, honesty, respect and care for each other; love for our children, treasure our parents, respect every religion, pray for an end to the drought, unhappiness in the province and for the whole South Africa.
“God never gives you a responsibility if He thinks you will not be able to carry it. We have to support each other as women as we journey together to build a better society,” said Modise.
The interfaith prayer meeting, convened under the theme ‘Building faith through prayer’, was part of the World Prayer Day Celebration.
The prayer meeting was held amidst the scourge of gender-based violence, including rape and spousal abuse, that have ravished the province and the country in recent days.
The prayer assembly was attended by women from various denominations. It was also intended to strengthen ties between the provincial government and faith-based organisations towards moral regeneration and social cohesion, among others.
The MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Desbo Mohono, was among those present at the prayer. – SAnews.gov.za
