Walking through KwaDukuza for peace

iLembe District mayor, Siduduzo Gumede called for peace walkers to practice and relearn the lessons past leaders like Nelson Mandela and Albert Luthuli taught us.

A motorcade and walk for peace in KwaDukuza last Friday was led by iLembe District and KwaDukuza municipalities, joined by Amakhosi, faith-based organisations, civil society groups, businesses, security companies and community policing forums, following recent unrest.

In his address, Mayor Gumede said: “We need to unite and work together. All of us now understand that we need to co-exist. This is a place where we want to have peace, we want to have hope and we want investors so that we can increase employment.”

He said the recent unrest showed him something he had never seen before – a school being torched.

“Now Radharoopsingh Primary learners from Etete cannot go to school. We must do away with this evil and make sure it never happens again.”

A message of support from the business sector was given by iLembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism vice president, Shain Manjoo, who said that despite all the negative aspects of recent unrest there were also many positives.

Manjoo said they received a call from the taxi industry which wanted to do its part to help, something which he said had never been done before.

“The message should be loud and clear for us all, and that is that we are all interconnected,” said Manjoo.

iLembe Civil Society chairperson, Richard Shandu called for everyone to work together to rebuild the district, also calling for peace between Africans and Indians.

He said that efforts should be made to drive out ‘criminals’ who seek to create division.

The planting of a tree of peace at the KwaDukuza municipal gardens followed a prayer for peace.