A prayer march, held in Elsies River over the weekend, was described as a huge success.
The interfaith march was organised by the Elsies River Community Policing Forum (CPF) and spiritual leaders from Elsies River, Ravensmead, Uitsig, Bishop Lavis, and surrounds.
Imraahn Mukkadem from the CPF says the march was organised to proclaim a “resolute no” to gangs. “We called for communities to be free from bloodshed. If our communities are bleeding, we must rise up. Prayer is our voice and together we can make a change. In prayer, we find strength; in unity we find peace,” says Mukkadem.
According to him hundreds of residents joined the march because people are fed-up with the crime in Elsies River. “There is no rest. On a daily basis people, especially young men, are gunned down and there is no ending in sight. Our last hope is to pray for change in the community,” says Mukkadem.
Speakers at the event made a point of saying if the community does not work with the police, gangsterism will never be defeated. “We have reached a point where we cannot just sit back and watch how our youth go to the grave. This is a turning point,” says Mukkadem.
