Faith-based persons and organisations believe that spiritual intervention in Alexandra can bring an end to the brutal killings and violence in the community.
This comes as the level of violence in the community remains alarmingly high, even the local police have acknowledged the crisis. Brigadier Vusimuzi Ngubane said the local police station is a contact crime station. He explained that it grapples with cases of common assault, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, sexual offences, and murder.

Read more: Public Safety Community Guardians express concern over Alex youths involvement in crime

It is these kinds of cases that necessitated the intervention of traditional healers and pastors. Coming together on December 3 at 3Square Sports Centre, they said they hoped to rally the help of God and ancestors to bring an end to violent crime in Alexandra.

Pastor Stephanie Ngcobo said all the spiritual leaders had one mandate, which is to call on their God to end violent crimes in the community. While at 3square Sports Centre, she said spiritual leaders would go to a number of places, including 13th Avenue, Pan Africa Shopping Centre, Marlboro, and the Jukskei River. There, they would pray and perform cleansing rituals for Alexandra. Behind the community-wide campaign lies hope that Alexandra will see an end to the violence that has plagued it.

Also read: Police urge Alexandra residents to help curb violent crime

In the past months, bodies have been discovered in Alexandra, toddlers discarded in cases of concealment of birth – some found alive, others dead. In recent weeks, a woman in her 20s was shot multiple times and brutally stabbed to death. Now, multiple cases of rape and attempted rape are being heard at the Alexandra Magistrate’s Court. According to the police, the community is also battered by a spate of robberies and hijackings.

Gogo Brenda Selibi said they saw it fit, as duty bearers from different denominations, to intervene. “Blood has spilled in Alexandra, and there is a rising number of gender-based violence cases and femicide as well. Toddlers are being abandoned, there are foetuses that we discover in the Jukskei River.” She said before they went out to the community, they had to ask for repentance, forgiveness, and correction. Although she did not point to specific things they would need to repent from, she said it was important to reflect on whether they are still fulfilling the mandate of their calling with integrity before going out into the community.

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