Pray for light and unity

RECONCILIATION

I OFFER you my greetings and my warm wishes as we celebrate the holy festival of Diwali.

Times like these are dedicated to reflect on what has gone before and reconnect with the light which lies within us.

During this Diwali season we need to pray for the transformation of our society into one nation united in diversity.

We need to increase our consciousness of the ways in which light can triumph over darkness.

My hope is that in this spirit of looking to the light, we should find reconciliation where there has been division and hurt.

Bound together as we are in the new South Africa, we need to recognise one of the most powerful potentially constructive elements – nation building.

This government is determined to promote unity because we believe that this is the only way of creating a compassionate society.

May the light that Deepavali brings shine in all of us and may we use this light to bring happiness and contentment to the lives of all the people of KwaZulu-Natal.

Duma is the KZN MEC for economic development, tourism and environmental affairs; and provincial ANC chairperson.

SIBONISO DUMA