DA Calls For Respect & Tolerance During Diwali Celebrations

The KZN Democratic Alliance would like to wish all Hindus a happy Diwali and prosperous New year. We understand this is a time of new beginnings and the DA wishes everyone celebrating a great start to the new year. As the celebrations will be taking place all over we would like to urge residents to exercise caution, restraint and tolerance during the upcoming festival.

It is our hope that this year, we will see adults taking more care of children and a reduction in the number of conflicts through responsible behaviour. Our message to those celebrating Diwali, to do so in a manner that respects others rights whilst at the same time we call on those who do not celebrate Diwali to exercise tolerance and respect for other cultures.

The DA believes that practising and non-practicing Hindu's should take care to respect each other’s rights and to demonstrate tolerance towards each groups cultural beliefs, as it is only through understanding and tolerance that we can build a non-racial City

The issue of safety has also been highlighted by the Democratic Alliance after a number of children sustained burn injuries due to firecrackers and other harmful devices during the festival.

Issued by Haniff Hoosen, DA KZN Chairperson, 8 November 2015