The Khoisan group, some based in Durban, embraced the Interfaith Provincial Prayer Day held at the Durban Exhibition Centre on Friday to highlight the recognition of the Khoi and San people.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli presided over the prayer day, which was held to pray for the eradication of social ills that plague the province.
The prayer day was held under the theme, KZN Spiritual Leaders United In Building KZN To Inspire New Hope.
Ntuli sstated that the provincial prayer challenged the faith-based leaders to build a KZN where hope is restored, where communities are healed, and where every person is allowed to thrive.
Ntuli said this important gathering of faith-based leaders is a call to prayer, reflection, and unity. It aims to bring together all sectors of society to seek divine intervention and spiritual renewal as the province continues its journey of rebuilding socially, economically, and morally.
Rosemary Rodriguez, the High Commissioner at Griqua Aboriginal Nation, said they felt honoured to be part of the prayer session.
Rodriguez said the prayer centred on praying for crime, with some religious leaders calling for the restoration of family values and society.
She pointed out that the breakdown of family values has taken its toll on communities, adding that some religious leaders believed that they were disrespected by politicians and that prayer without action means nothing.
Rodriguez asserted that the government cannot build truth on lies. She called for the Khoi and San tradition to be recognised.
“Discussions were made around political heads, ignoring all the tenements that the people pray for. A point made was that our government had gone around breaking spiritual barriers, altars, and foundations in communities throughout the country,” she said.
“Because of this, we sit with the dilemma that we face today of gangs, rampant drug abuse, and crime. These barriers were there to protect people. Now that they are in trouble, they come to us. When they were making the incorrect decisions, we were not there. They must address it,” Rodriguez said.
The Khoi-San Council is demanding recognition as the First Nation and land rights, the scrapping of the name coloured as they prefer to be recognised as Khoisan, and the inclusion of their language as one of the official languages in the country
