As the matric class of 2025 prepares to start their final exams on Tuesday 21 October, members of the organisation Uzwelonke held a special prayer service in Gugulethu on Saturday 11 October.
Uzwelonke is an organisation of religious leaders from across the province united in their mission to combat gender-based violence and other social ills in society.
The event started at the Gugulethu Police Station with the handing over of a memorandum, before moving to the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa, located at the corner of NY1 and NY117, where the main gathering took place.
The memorandum was accepted by Col Isaac Mccloen on behalf of the acting station commander Col Soyiso Mantyi.
Mccloen praised the church leaders for leading such a meaningful initiative.
He said it’s high time the community reclaims their streets. The president of the organisation, Brenda Ntenteni, described the prayer service as a way to motivate the learners. She added that they also prayed against the social ills affecting the community. She urged parents to rally behind their children during the examination time.
“We are appealing to the parents to support their children. The parents must give the children ample time to study their books instead of forcing them to do house chores. However, we urge the parents to monitor them and ensure that they are studying and not playing with their phones,” she said.
Ntenteni highlighted the escalating crime in the area as a major problem. She appealed to the officers to be visible on the streets.
“Now that it’s time for the final examination some of the learners will be studying in groups at night. After they’ve finished studying, some of them will want to go home at night. We want the officers to always be visible and accompany them,” she appealed, adding that they need cooperation with the officers.
Sizwe Nolutshungu a member of Blaahs Society from Khayelitsha urged all fathers to support their children during this difficult time.
Blaahs is a non-governmental organisation for men that focuses on empowering and supporting young people in the community.
He described the prayer service as a way of instilling hope to the learners.
“I’m here to support the religious leaders who came with this great concept of praying for all the learners who are going to write matric final exams this year. As Blaahs Society we are here representing those children who don’t have fathers. We also say to those men who are committing crime in our societies not in our name,” said Nolutshungu citing that they are not praying for matric learners only but for all learners who will be writing their final exams.
Grade 12 learner Emihle Mthobela from Trafalgar High in District Six described the prayer service as a great initiative. She said it motivates and boosts their self-
esteem.
