Rampahosa Denies Saying Churches Should Stay Out of Politics

PRETORIA – Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday that he wanted to “correct the incorrect impressions” spreading in the media that he believed churches should not get involved in politics.

Ramaphosa said in a statement that he welcomed “the robust manner in which the churches and all other religious formations have engaged the government on critical issues facing our country”.

The statement comes after reports that Ramaphosa had allegedly said the exact opposite to a gathering of the Church of the First Born in Limpopo on the weekend, where he was urging people to register to vote.

He was quoted by the SABC as saying: “Pastor I want to thank your church again for the stance that your church has decided to take that the church is not going to criticise the government but it is going to pray for the government. Your job is to pray so that God can bless the government and leaders who are in government. Your job is not to pray that the leaders in government must go to hell. Your job is to pray that they must correct their ways and mistakes and go to heaven.”

Numerous church leaders have in the last week come out against the African National Congress for failing to take action against President Jacob Zuma after the Constitutional Court ruling that he failed to uphold, defend and respect the constitution. In a statement yesterday, the Congress of the People party lashed out at Ramaphosa over his alleged comments about church leaders.

COPE said it was shocked at Ramaphosa’s comments, especially after so many church leaders had played a role in the demise of apartheid.

“It may be that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa slept through those years of the struggle when these men and women in the religious establishment stood up in opposition to Apartheid and spoke out against its evil,” COPE said.