Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his best wishes to the Muslim community as they observe the fasting month of Ramadaan. “For our Muslim brethren here at home and around the world, this is a sacred time of reflection, prayer and performing acts of charity – values that unite us all,” President Ramaphosa said on Saturday.
According to South African Government News Agency, the President emphasized South Africa’s unity in diversity, stating, “this is our greatest strength as we work together to build a better South Africa of equality and opportunity for all.” The month of Ramadaan, observed by approximately 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide, is marked by fasting from sunrise to sunset, special prayers, and feeding the needy.
President Ramaphosa praised the acts of compassion, empathy, and generosity by the Muslim community, noting, “As a country, we laud these acts… [they] are even more sorely needed in today’s troubled world.” He acknowledged the challenges faced by suffering communities in regions such as Gaza, the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Sahel, expressing solidarity with oppressed peoples and calling for an end to intolerance, conflict, and war.
The President concluded by highlighting South Africa’s cultural and religious harmony, stating, “We are grateful to be a nation where many cultures and faiths co-exist in harmony – may this also be a time for outreach and building bridges of tolerance and understanding between our different communities.”