ANCWL holds prayer service to comfort family of boy trapped in mineshaft

The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) held a prayer service for the young Richard Thole, who fell down a mineshaft in the Jerusalem informal settlement near Witfield, in Ekurhuleni, on February 25.

Despite the rescue efforts of Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Service, the department of mineral resources and Mine Rescue Services, the five-year-old boy is yet to be found.

ALSO READ: Wet weather hampers Boksburg mineshaft rescue operation

Last Wednesday, Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina called on the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) for assistance, and after off- and onsite briefings last Thursday, the SANDF went away to compile a report for a decision on the way forward for rescue efforts to be made.

On Wednesday, African News Agency reported that Ekurhuleni mayoral spokesperson Gugu Ndima said they were yet to meet with the SANDF experts, but it was expected for the report to be out by Friday.

The ANCWL tweeted images of their prayer service held in Boksburg on Thursday, including of the delegation, led by ANCWL secretary-general Cde Meokgo Matuba, arriving at the prayer service at Delmos Hostel. The ANCWL tweeted that the prayer service aimed to comfort the boy’s family, and they also handed over food items to the boy’s mother who was in attendance along with the local ANC leadership.

The tweet read: “The #ANCWLSG hands over the food stuff to the mother and encourages society to stretch out a hand to those in need #RicahardThole #sinkhole.”

The ANCWL further tweeted that Matuba spoke at the prayer service and unpacked the purpose of the #MoloMelwane campaign, which is aimed at facilitating “caring and united communities”.

“The #ANCWLSG encouraged the business sector to partner with the #ANCWL on #MoloMelwane and be friends of the poor,” the ANCWL further tweeted.

The ANCWL also said on Twitter that the young Thole’s teacher spoke words of encouragement at the meeting. “The teacher to #RichardThole gives hope to the family that miracles do happen and the child may be found intact by God’s grace #sinkhole,” the ANCWL tweeted.

ALSO READ: Efforts to rescue boy from Ekurhuleni mine shaft continue

Read the tweets in the order of events below:

Today the #ANCWL prays for the 5 year old boy, Richard Thole who got stuck in a mineshaft in Boksburg. #Pray4Richard

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

An #ANCWL delegation led by the #ANCWLSG Cde Meokgo Matuba arrives at Delmos Hostel at the prayer for #RichardThole pic.twitter.com/MGCB6Sn6qs

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

Prayer for #RichardThole resumes in song to set the tone for the day's proceedings.In attendance is the mother and the local #ANCleadership pic.twitter.com/r2lPT3AN2G

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

Members of the #ANCWL at the #RichardThole prayer service to comfort the family of the 5year old that fell into a mineshaft in Boksburg pic.twitter.com/MBJeNGVo4L

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

The teacher to #RichardThole gives hope to the family that miracles do happen and the child may be found intact by God's grace #sinkhole pic.twitter.com/JslGrD3Lv2

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— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

Cde Bandzi gave words of comfort to the mother of #RichardThole and commited to purchasing a plot to build a descent home for her #sinkhole pic.twitter.com/hta2yNXso3

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

The #ANCWLSG speaks at the #RichardThole prayer service in Boksburg today and unpacks the purpose of the program #sinkhole pic.twitter.com/nBRDnuActC

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

"Branches of the #ANCWL are embarking on the #MoloMelwane campaign to facilitate a caring and United communities",ANCWLSG #WeCare #sinkhole

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

The #ANCWLSG encouraged the business sector to partner with the #ANCWL on #MoloMelwane and be friends of the poor

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

The #ANCWLSG encouraged the business sector to partner with the #ANCWL on #MoloMelwane and be friends of the poor

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

The #ANCWLSG hands over the food stuff to the mother and encourages society to stretch out a hand to those in need #RicahardThole #sinkhole pic.twitter.com/wLbcRee27w

— ANC Women's League (@ANCWomensLeague) March 9, 2017

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