Pastor determined to spread hope and fight crime

PREACHING messages of hope from the pulpit and helping to curb crime on the streets is what local pastor and chairman of the Wentworth CPF, Donovan Anderson, is passionate about.

Anderson was born in 1953, in a small place called Riverside near Athlone Hotel in Durban North. He moved to Wentworth 13 years later and after finishing school, he took up carpentry as a trade. He unfortunately found himself swallowed up by the dark cloud that has long since plagued Wentworth, and joined a local gang that was involved in illegal dealings.

Hungry for a positive change, at the age of 20, he gave his life to Jesus and became a committed child of God in The Apostolic Faith Mission of South Africa in Wentworth. “Growing up in that environment and seeing all the gangsterism and violence at that time, inspired me to make a difference in the community that I love and grew up in. I was officially ordained into full time ministry in 1966 in the same church. My first sermon was preached in that same church of which I am now the presiding pastor. I met my wife, Bernadine, in a church not too far from ours and married her in 1977,” he said. Today, he is the proud father of three, two sons and one daughter, who are all grown up and married.

One can only imagine the pressure that comes with preaching the word and messages of faith in a community riddled with crime, violence and drugs. However, the pastor’s undying spirit refuses to back down.

“It’s been challenging but with God nothing is impossible. In my many years living here, I have seen an enormous amount of change in the community. So called gang activities have grown to a very small scale. One of my highlights in my ministry work was joining forces with other pastors and community leaders together with the police to create peace between two rival gangs who were notorious at that time. They were known as the Young Destroyers and G Section, in 2017. Since then, no more shootings and killings among the two gangs have occurred. I have also been involved in many other peace initiatives between other rival sections in Wentworth.”

In keeping with the fight against criminal activities in the area, Anderson was elected as chairman of the Wentworth CPF in 2014.

“Around that time myself and other community members had also started an organisation called the Merewent Community Crime Prevention Association (MCCPA) initiated by the then MEC of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu. That motivated me to get involved further in my fight against crime, by joining the CPF. Today both organisations are involved in ward 68, working in harmony. The CPF is the voice of the people and people must get involved to make a difference. There is no use talking or shouting, instead we need to put our hands together in united front against the enemy that is crippling our community,” said Anderson who lost his nephew at a young age to crime.

Anderson is a familiar face to many in the community and is always willing help those affected by the various social ills prevalent in the area. He urges the youth to remember that crime does not pay. “Don’t be lured into the drug trade because this is our major problem right now. Prioritise your education, respect your elders and respect one another. Don’t be a statistic but instead make something of yourself,” encouraged the pastor.

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