Search

Coming on the heels of the G20 Leaders Summit hosted by South Africa on November 22-23, 2025, and building upon the positive momentum from the groundbreaking 2024 conference “Catalyzing Impactful Collaboration between Government and Faith Communities,” the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) and the South African Community of Faith-Based Fraternals and Federations (SACOFF) co-convened a pivotal follow-up gathering on November 24-25, 2025, in Centurion, South Africa.

This year’s conference, themed around “Integrity in Faith-Governance Legacy Building,” brought together 85 influential leaders from government, diverse faith communities (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Bahá’í, and indigenous African traditions), politics, police, and civil society across South Africa and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

The event continued the trajectory set by the 2024 Johannesburg convening, which marked a historic first in uniting government officials and multi-faith leaders to address post-apartheid challenges. The 2025 gathering sustained and deepened those partnerships, emphasizing practical collaboration to tackle pressing issues such as corruption, gender-based violence (GBV), crime, ethical leadership, social cohesion, and peacemaking.

Keynote addresses and presentations featured prominent voices, including:

• African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula
• Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Inkatha Freedom Party President Velenkosini Hlabisa
• ActionSA President Herman Mashaba
• Democratic Alliance MP Andrew Bateman
• MK Party Chief Whip Colleen Makhubele
• African Christian Democratic Party MP Steve Swart

Faith leaders such as SACOFF President and 3C Church Pastor Bert Pretorius, Imboni Dr. Uzwi-Lezwe Radebe, Shaik Imraan Subrathie, and Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein also contributed powerfully.

Discussions highlighted the vital role of faith communities in championing ethical leadership, combating corruption, addressing the GBV crisis (recently classified as a national disaster), promoting family values, and fostering peacemaking. Speakers stressed the need for faith leaders to serve as moral voices, bridge gaps in society, and partner with government on issues like crime prevention, school safety, and national reconciliation. Regional perspectives from Zambia and Zimbabwe underscored opportunities for broader SADC collaboration.

“This conference represents a continuation of the impactful relationships built last year,” said IGE President Bob Roberts. “By convening  leaders from government and faith communities, we are catalyzing new partnerships that can serve the common good and advance human flourishing.”

SACOFF President Pastor Bert Pretorius added, “The extraordinary outcomes from our 2024 gathering inspired us to convene again, especially with national elections on the horizon. Faith and government leaders need each other to build a just, peaceful, and prosperous South Africa.”

The conference concluded with commitments to ongoing dialogue, collaborative projects, and a shared vision for the nation’s future, including plans for working meetings in the coming year.