Church leaders and residents march to address Wentworth’s social ills
The recent spate of killings in Wentworth provided the catalyst for this action, with church leaders leading the march.
SCORES of people took to the streets in Merebank and Wentworth to voice their frustrations over the ongoing social issues that have left these communities in tatters.
Leaders from various interfaith denominations led the march from Badula Sports Field to The Bluff on March 21.
The march coincided with the celebration of Human Rights Day, and residents sought divine intervention to put an end to the ongoing killings in Wentworth, poverty, unemployment, school violence, and other social ills that continue to tear these communities apart.
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Both young and old braved the humid conditions, singing religious songs in unity, in an effort to restore peace within their neighbourhoods. The recent spate of killings in Wentworth provided the catalyst for this action, with church leaders and representatives from various lobby groups standing together to pray for peace and order in the region’s most troubled areas.
Deacon Quinton Manto of the Roman Catholic Church of Christ the King, Wentworth, called on community leaders to take a stand against social issues and implement long-lasting solutions for the communities they represent.
“In Wentworth, there is a great deal of division, when we should be working together in unity to solve the problems. There seems to be division at all levels of leadership. To me, it seems like everyone wants a piece of the pie,” he said.
“With this march, we hope to foster a community that will come together to help one another and ensure that areas like Wentworth and other downtrodden neighbourhoods can improve. This is the essence of the march – we want to promote peace and bring people together,” Deacon Manto added.
The day ended with songs and sermons at the Wentworth Home of the Warriors Stadium, where more than six pastors and reverends took to the stage, urging the community to work together in restoring peace within their neighbourhoods.
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