The Lwandle Spiritual Crime Prevention Forum (LSCPF), officers from Lwandle Police Station and the Sinikithemba Group held special prayers on Sunday 2 July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The prayers were held at two separate places, under trees near Ezinkomeni informal settlement \u2013 a spot identified by residents as an area where people commit suicide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second prayer was at other trees near Wag \u2018n Bietjie informal settlement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LSCPF secretary and leader of Believer\u2019s Bible Church Loyiso Marubelela described the service as a special prayer. He said the motive was to cleanse the two spots. He added that many families were traumatised by the sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe received a report from the police that there are many people who are hanging themselves on these trees. As church leaders, we felt that we cannot fold our arms when our people are killing themselves for unknown reasons. We do not want this thing to be fashionable in our society,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Marubelela, the last incident happened two months ago. A man was discovered hanging from a tree near the Wag \u2018n Bietjie area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEveryone is affected by these incidents including the people who are living close by these trees because they are the ones who witness these incidents,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sinikithemba group organiser Thembeka Soldat appealed to the City to remove the trees. Sinikithemba is a non-profit organisation that works closely with the community by providing assistance, especially to needy families. She said they brought bad memories and trauma to many families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe also support the call for nature preservation, but these trees are reminiscent of bad memories. It is not like these suicide incidents happened once. No, they happened many times. These trees are cause for concern,\u201d explained Soldat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
She praised the church leaders for stepping forward and for praying against the bad spirits. She said she hoped that having such a prayer would make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Acting Lwandle Police Station Commander Capt Ntsikelelo Siqiki confirmed the incidents but stated that he did not have the statistics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, he promised to track down all the families affected by the incidents and to provide counselling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will refer them to social workers so that they can assist them. Also, we will have awareness campaigns where we talk to the community at large about other problems that are facing the community,\u201d concluded Siqiki.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Lwandle Spiritual Crime Prevention Forum (LSCPF), officers from Lwandle Police Station and the Sinikithemba Group held special prayers on Sunday 2 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