THE urgent need for civil society to step in where politicians are failing the Nelson Mandela Metropole, has been highlighted by the first Nehemiah Prayer Walk through all 60 municipal wards.
Former Anglican bishop Eric Pike, accompanied by At Schoeman walked the newly inaugurated 200km Nelson Mandela Bay prayer walk, which will also serve as a tourist route as it links many of the metro’s historical sites.
The route is designed to be covered on foot, by bicycle, motorcycle and car.
“One of the things that really hit me hardest is the amount of rubbish lying around in townships,” says Pike.
“The rubbish is a symptom of the hopelessness that people feel. They simply do not have the energy or motivation to pick it up,” he says.
Route developer Trevor Jennings of Transformation Christian Network (TCN) says, “As you walk around you have to be very careful that you don’t get into a feeling of hopelessness when you see the magnitude of the challenges facing the people of the metro.
“We South Africans have proven that we can rise above all challenges. We have seen miracles in the past.”
The walk started in Ward 1 at St Margaret’s Anglican Church in Summerstrand. Included in the route during the week were the Catholic Diocese in Park Lane, St Stephens Anglican to Missionvale Care Centre where they were welcomed by Sister Ethel, St Mathews in KwaMagxaki and Bluewater Bay.
Starting at St Mathews, the second week took Bishop Pike and other walkers who accompanied him on sections of the route to Bluewater Bay, the John Wesley Methodist in Motherwell, the Motherwell magistrates Court and ending the week off in Uitenhage.
The third week started on Daniel Pienaar Road in Uitenhage where walkers made their way to Langa Community Hall in Rosedale to the Congregational Church in Dale Street, to Emmanuel Baptist Church and ended at the African Gospel Church in Gwali Street.
The fourth and final week started at Kwa-Nobuhle mall, and included the AFM church in Despatch, Ebenezer North to Helenvale Resources Centre then to the Bible Society in Cotswold to St Nicholas Church and ended where it started at St Margaret’s Church in Summerstrand.
The walkers are accompanied by members of the South Africa Police Service and a metro emergency medical service vehicle.
- For more information about the walk visit the Transformation Christian Network NMB Facebook page.
