Sihle Mavuso

The provincial legislature will host a one-day interfaith ­symposium to promote social ­dialogue with the religious leaders and encourage them to become involved in the legislative system.

The symposium will be held tomorrow at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall. Expected to attend are religious leaders from the seven dominant religious bodies in the country, including Christian, ­Muslim, Hindu and Jewish faiths.

The speaker of the legislature, Peggy Nkonyeni, said the provincial government wanted to broaden the scope of public participation so that the legislature remained "people-centred".

The ANC Women League recently proposed that prostitution be legalised. The league is expected to mobilise for this proposal at the upcoming elective ANC conference in Mangaung in December.

Religious bodies and other faith-based organisations are objecting to this proposal, arguing that it "is unGodly and bad for a country like South Africa which is already battling a decline in moral values and sky-rocketing HIV infection rate".

The symposium is expected to adopt a declaration that will be forwarded to the legislature for consideration.

provinces@thenewage.co.za