- Residents and church leaders in Gugulethu held a prayer march to raise awareness about crime, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy in the area.
- Community members are calling for an end to daylight killings and for spiritual intervention to combat social issues.
- Organisers believe that through faith and unity, they can reclaim their streets from crime.
Concerned residents and church leaders from the JL Zwane area in Gugulethu held a special prayer on Saturday 19 October marching on the streets against the social ills in the area.
The area consists of NY 6,7, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38 and 40.
The event organiser and NY 28 chair Lee Khabene described the service as part of raising crime awareness in the area. He said they aimed to reprimand the bad spirit.
“There are a lot of things that are happening in these areas. There is crime and people are killed in the daylight. We have a challenge of teenage pregnancy and substance abuse. We need a spiritual intervention in this debacle. We believe that there is nothing impossible with God,” said Khabene, adding that parents were abused by their children.
He said it was the first time the community had such a prayer. “People are tired of what is happening in our area. While we were praying around on the streets some people came out and joined us. That alone is a sign that shows people are tired and they need help,” he said.
Leader of the Uniting Reformed Apostolic Mission of Southern Africa (URAMSA) in Gugulethu, Ayanda Ngudlana said they wanted Gugulethu to be a gun-free zone.
“Many innocent people were killed in Gugulethu. As a community we felt we could not sit down and fold our arms while the criminals dictated to us. We want the community to reclaim their streets from criminals. We are saying enough is enough,” he said. Ngudlana urged the community to stand up and fight for their children.
