Presidential good wishes and support over Ramadan

On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa I would like to wish all the Muslims in our country strength and health over the holy period of Ramadan.

The Month of Ramadan is also known as the Month of Patience as it is a month of sacrifice, reflection and contemplation.

The fast itself reminds us of those who go to bed hungry every day of their lives. It reminds us to be compassionate to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. It reminds us to strengthen our resolve to fight hunger and poverty.

And it reminds us to strengthen our bonds of unity and family and community ties in a multi-faith South Africa where we enshrine the virtues of respect, tolerance, peaceful coexistence and mutual caring.

Fasting is one of the Five Pillars (duties) of Islam, and along with Zakat (almsgiving), demonstrates the enormous contribution both Islam and those who practice it can make to creating a better life, and a more prosperous life for all who live in our country.

Let us use Zakat as an additional and an important means of wealth distribution in our country.

Let us all in the Month of Ramadan reflect on how we can, in these difficult times, make meaningful contributions to poverty eradication and to finding a lasting peace in the Middle East which are two of the most important challenges we face globally.

Ramadan Mubarak.

TM Mbeki
President of The Republic of South Africa