Some places of worship around the country have heeded President Cyril Ramophosa’s call for a National Day of Prayer on Sunday.
The San community of Platfontein held two separate services to pray for God’s intervention in eradicating the COVID-19 pandemic.
Churches are grappling with how to accommodate a large number of attendees and ensuring congregants wear masks and maintain social distancing.
The congregants gathered in two separate churches in Platfontein. The church ensured that each congregant entering is sanitised. The social distancing between congregants has also been observed.
But in the other church, it seemed the number went a bit higher than the expected 50. Most congregants also did not wear masks.
Pastor Pieterse Manu emphasised the obedience to all lockdown regulations will be part of today’s message.
“I think it is very important because today we try to pray for the future of our country South Africa. We are also praying for the virus. I think in the whole world, we have a virus and we are praying that the lord can help us,” Pastor Manu said.
In the video below, St Michael’s Catholic Church in Cape Town observes the National Day of Prayer:
The Roman Catholic Church has accepted the government’s explanation to be required as an essential service. The church says it is planning to draft a plan of action to enforce the social distancing rules to comply with the government requirements.
Father Sifiso Mpanza says the National Day of Prayer is important for the church to come together.
“I think it is the most important day for the church and people of God to come together and be of a single mind to put before God all our cries and things of that nature. So this day is very important.”
In the video below, Father Sifiso Mpanza talks the SABC about the National Day of Prayer:
In the video below, Rhema Bible Church’s Pastor Ray McCauley delivers his message for National Day of Prayer:
Reopening of places of worship
The Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies will meet with religious leaders in the faith on Tuesday to discuss the reopening of synagogues. Until a decision has been made, all synagogues in the Western Cape will remain closed.
As declared by President Ramaphosa, places of worship will be allowed to reopen from Monday subject to strict conditions as the country moves to Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown.
Jewish Board Executive Director, Stuart Diamond says the board will meet with Jewish leaders on Tuesday.
“As of the 1st of June, all the synagogues in the Cape will remain closed. The Cape SA Jewish Board of Deputies will be meeting with all religious leaders as well as their schule committees over the latest government gazette. This will be done this Tuesday after which a decision taking into consideration the gazette the Chief Rabbi and all religious and communal leadership the organisation will then make a call on whether schules will reopen or not.”
In the video below, Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein says we should make everyday a prayer day:
Reopening of mosques
Meanwhile, the Muslim Judicial Council has called for the deferral of the reopening of mosques around the country for another month, following consultations with health experts. The council has supported Ramaphosa’s declaration of a National Day of Prayer.
The MJC’s First Deputy President, Moulana Abdul Khaliq Ali, says postponing the reopening will ensure that all mosques are properly sanitised and comply with the protocol to protect worshippers.
“We have a host of advisors, medical advisors who have been advising the MJC from the beginning of March. We have met with our medical advisors on Wednesday, we have had our general meeting with all our members on Thursday and we have taken the position to say that we defer the opening of our mosques here in the Western Cape specifically and that is our call nationally as well mosques should not open. Our mosque committees have embraced the call.”
In the video below, Moulana Abdul Khaliq Ali calls for the postponing of the reopening of mosques.
The trustees of Durban’s popular Juma Musjid Mosque say the prayer facility will remain closed during Level 3 of the lockdown. Previously known as the largest mosque in the southern hemisphere, the facility can accommodate 7 000 worshippers.
Trustee AV Mohammed says although Ramaphosa announced that a maximum number of 50 worshippers are allowed in religious institutions during lockdown alert Level 3, the mosque will remain closed.
“Grey street mosque, as it is popularly known, attracts a crowd of 1 500 people per day and close to 3 500 to 4 000 on Fridays, which is made up of 80% of foreigners. It’s going to be absolutely beyond given mechanisms to calculate which 50 should come and which 50 should not come and sanitising before and after the logistics are too big for a mosque the size of Juma Musjid in Durban.”
