On the morning of March 22, 2024, Shincheonji Volunteers in Gqeberha and the Healing Hands Foundation partnered together to spearhead a Peace March through Central Gqeberha, spotlighting the predicament of crime and its interconnected socio-economic issues.
The participants gathered at 10:00 at the Healing Hands Foundation and started the march through Parliament Street, Rink Street and Govan Mbeki Street. The march was brought to a close at Donkin Lighthouse where refreshments were served. A portion of the route involved a clean up campaign led by The Waste Trade Company.
The South African Police Services from Humewood also stood in solidarity for the plight of illegal activities that occur in parts of Gqeberha, such as the selling and distribution of drugs, hijackings and violence.
“We have been running the safe home for 14 years now and we are surrounded by student accommodations. We see people, including students get robbed everyday and we see people getting robbed and getting hurt. We just thought enough is enough. We see the drug dealers around and what these drugs are doing to our kids and how they’re destroying our country. Somebody has to take a stand. We decided to get everybody together, so that we can be heard and something can be done about it,” shared one of the organisers from the Healing Hands Foundation, Magdalene Bangaree.
Despite weather conditions being slightly warmer than average, the public, Nelson Mandela University students, volunteers from Healing Hands and Shincheonji Volunteers came out in numbers of over 50 people. In celebration of Human Rights Day, the event highlighted the South African constitutional right of a safe and secure environment.
Siyakuvuma Bomvu, one of the representatives of Shincheonji Volunteers, shared that youth development is one of the many crucial socio-economic issues that they aim to highlight and tackle through their initiatives.
The Shincheonji Church of Jesus marked its 40th anniversary on March 14, 2024, commemorating its founding on the same date in 1984. During the celebration, ambitious plans for the upcoming year were revealed, underscoring the church’s dedication to community service and its position as a guiding force and source of strength. Through such endeavors, both government and private entities can gain insight into effective strategies for addressing pressing issues like violence, drug abuse, crime, gang activity, and similar challenges.
The Ward 5 Councillor, Terri Stander, addressed the participants as well as Acting Executive Director of Safety and Security, Mr Niel Whitebooi and Mr Keith Mitchell of the municipality. The memorandum was handed over on behalf of the Central area of Gqeberha, where crime has proved to be the most prevalent.
“Crime doesn’t see gender, it hurts us all,” Terri shared. “Every single day, these students are victims of crime, as well as the general residents of people walking through Central and the surrounding areas.
It is important for residents to actively engage in combating crime by reporting criminal activities occurring within their communities. Additionally, civilians can make tangible contributions to crime prevention efforts by participating in police forums, initiating neighborhood committees, or joining volunteer groups. Ms Bangaree further urged those unable to attend the march to utilise social media as a potent tool for raising awareness, thereby fostering a sense of peace and security for the people of Gqeberha.