Catholic bishops want voters to send politicians ‘a warning message’

28 July 2016 - 10:00 By TMG Digital

Tell them you are “tired of corruption…and serious neglect of the common good of our communities”. That’s what the “warning message” the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference wants voters to send to political leaders when they cast their votes in the local government polls.The message should put them on notice that “South Africa is tired of politicians who do not have genuine concern for the economic and other hardships that our citizens are enduring”‚ issued by Archbishop William Slattery said.“These elections come at a time when many are struggling with unemployment‚ the rising cost of living‚ household debt‚ lack of basic resources‚ the slow pace of service delivery‚ and high levels of crime.“In such a period of economic hardships‚ it is important to use the elections as an accountability mechanism to send a warning message to the political leaders that people in this country are tired of corruption‚ misuse of tax payers’ money‚ little or no service delivery‚ and serious neglect of the common good of our communities.”The church leaders also “called on those who shall soon be elected councillors to view their position as an opportunity for service‚ and not for self-enrichment”‚ and to “exercise power with honesty and accountability to the poor and the most vulnerable”.They reiterated their observation that “the rising levels of pre-election violence were a result of a culture of greed and patronage politics”...

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