WATCH: Naturena crime-free prayer walk a success
The walk was aimed at addressing issues of crime in Naturena.
Different stakeholders participated in the Naturena crime-free prayer walk, which started on Malta Street, on March 21.
Throughout the walk, there were three prayer points where the procession stopped and prayed for a crime-free Naturena. A plenary session was in place before the event.
One organiser, Ward 119 public safety portfolio representative Nceba Ndube, thanked all who attended, including Ward 119 Clr Thobile Zondo, Mondeor SAPS, CPF Mondeor Precinct Sector 4, JMPD Community Outreach Unit, EMS, Department of Community Safety, Fidelity ADT, Bara City Taxi Owners Associations, Eldos Taxi Associations, Sipho Manana (Naturena’s golden boy from the Idols) and DJ Grant.
WATCH: Naturena crime-free prayer walk a success pic.twitter.com/OSJGje5pWg
— Southern Courier SA (@courier_sa) March 26, 2024
“The prayer walk was a success and something very significant happened. Before the event, we had unfavourable weather and on the day, the weather was very favourable for the walk. An hour after the event, the weather suddenly changed and rained. To me, that means a higher being acknowledged our prayers.
“Now that we had this prayer walk, it is time to act in fighting crime and drugs in Naturena. I now see the light at the end of the tunnel. Greater things are yet to come, as I have already noticed some changes,” he said.
More positive changes in Naturena
Also on the day, Ndube said after an initiative to have lunch with Naturena senior residents on December 31 last year, with Buhle Nkonyane of Tushiya Home Based Care Exposure NPO and other organisations, they gathered the senior residents to form a team called Ezindala.
Ezindala means ‘The Elders’ and currently shares a makeshift soccer field with local soccer teams. It is not properly maintained and needs regular maintenance.
“This space is adopted by our youth, elders, local church and a mobile clinic and utilised as a recreational space, while before it was an overgrown illegal dumping site.
“Hence, an attempt to work with our youth in addressing crime and drugs. Last time, we used Youth Day by organising winter games, but there was no consistency.
“This time, we are working with the elders ‘Ezindala’, as an African proverb says, ‘Indlela ibuzwa kwabaphambili’ which means ‘those who have gone before are the ones who can show the path.’
“The elderly ladies are currently being trained by our young man, Daniel Hendricks. This time around, our elders are to lead the way to pave the way for us as a community to heal the ills of this community. With the assistance of our men and women of God, our mission could be possible when we invite the higher being,” explained Ndube.
