Churches unite in Eldorado Park to fight gang violence through prayer and action

The Eldos United Church Movement (EUCM) led a prayer session on June 1 in Extension One, Eldorado Park, in response to the surge in gang violence that continues to violate residents’ fundamental rights.

EUCM is a coalition of congregations from various churches united in solidarity, calling for an end to the bloodshed that has claimed the lives of many young people.

The initiative also aligns with Child Protection Week and Youth Month, marking a stand for peace and safety.

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Gang violence in the area infringes on citizens’ rights to life, safety and security, freedom from violence, dignity, and property. It often results in destruction, theft, and extortion.

Drug and substance abuse were highlighted as root causes deepening the social ills in what was once a structured and close-knit community.

Thomas Maitel, a resident of Extension One, Klipspruit West, said the community is living in fear.

“Children can’t even walk to the shop or school without feeling threatened because they never know what might happen.

“The senseless killings aren’t just happening in Extension One – it’s across Eldos, Klipspruit, and Old Klipspruit,” he said.

“It’s time for churches to stand together, and that’s exactly what’s happening today. Faith-based organisations are uniting because the earth needs to be redeemed back to the Lord.”

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Sharlene, a resident of Extension One, expressed gratitude to all the churches that came to support the area.

She said they will observe a seven-day fast, standing in unity and trusting God to intervene in the escalating violence.

“We’re losing young boys every single day. The community now lives in fear. We’re too afraid to go to the shops or let our kids play in the street,” she said.

She also described the anxiety of coming home:

“You have to call ahead and ask, ‘Is it safe for me to get off the transport and come home?’ Some days, my mom tells me to take a detour because there’s shooting in our street.”

“The shootings are constant – whether it’s into the air or aimed at one another. Not a day goes by without bullets being fired.”

She linked the violence to gang activity, saying the most heartbreaking part is that the young men involved once grew up together.

“Now they’re killing each other. In my street, we’re facing the same thing – full-blown gang war. I live on Hurricane Street. If you live there, it’s not safe to go to Dakota Street, and vice versa.”

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“Some people assume it’s drug-related, but this is gang-related. When people were selling drugs, we didn’t experience this kind of terror.

“What we’re seeing now is what many coloured communities face: gang rivalry, often called varados and fast gun rage. What’s happening here is devastating.”

Executive Pastor Lily Rose Beckett of Ignite Family Church emphasized that EUCM is about more than uniting churches – it’s about closing the gap that violence has created in the community.

“We are coming together as one body of Christ, across denominations, to restore hope, unity, and peace to Eldorado Park,” said Beckett.

She reflected on a time when the community was safe, when “the village raised the child.”

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“That village still exists, but it’s been worn down. What we’re doing now is rebuilding that strength.

“We’re not doing it out of obligation but conviction. We acknowledge the past – its faults and its triumphs – and we’re using that experience to do better.”

“Not perfection, but progress. We are human; we’ll make mistakes. But if we remain steadfast, consistent, and committed to the well-being of our families and youth, we can begin transforming this community — from fear to faith, from despair to hope.”