November 29, 2005
By Tammy O'Reilly
JOZI is taking the government's Moral Regeneration Movement directly to the people, starting with Diepsloot.
Executive Mayor Amos Masondo, along with religious leaders, has appealed to people to learn tolerance for one another and to contribute to restoring the moral fibre that is quickly waning in society.
On Saturday, 26 November residents packed into the Diepsloot Youth Centre, to listen to the mayor, who spoke about the motivation behind the Moral Regeneration Movement.
Guru Swaminathan, Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa and Johannesburg Executive Mayor Amos Masondo at the launch of Joburg's Moral Regeneration Movement
"We have a past that is characterised by violence; the Moral Regeneration Movement is part of the forces that seek to normalise our communities," he said.
"In order to prepare for the future, we need to know where we have come from. The MRM is about the future and to facilitate the renewal of the moral fibre of our nation."
The movement, formally launched by the government in 2002, supports any organisation that aims to instil sound social values in South Africans.
"By moral decay we are talking about the prevalence of crimes, murder, rape, violence, drugs, corruption, backbiting greed and abuse of women and children," said Father Smangaliso Mkhatswha, the movement's national chairperson.
"Many people are under the misconception that crimes and immoral conduct [have only been] prevalent post-1994. This is not the case.
"Remember, before democracy there was not much transparency in the government and media, but now that we are free, immoral behaviour is being widely exposed," Mkhatshwa said.
He called on everyone present to spread the message of tolerance and peace to their families, friends and neighbours, saying that the onus was on adults to teach their children to be morally upright.
Community members and religious leaders also signed a pledge to promote peace.
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