By Anita Dangazele
Churchgoers in Kwazakhele, Gqeberha, marched on Thursday to protest against rising crime, poverty, and unemployment.
The Spiritual Crime Prevention initiative organised the march after reports surfaced of churches being forced to pay criminals for protection.
“Remember, our congregants are also residents,” said Elder Cyril Langbooi of the United Ethiopian Church of Africa.
“When they are being charged extortion money in their homes, it also affects us.”
He mentioned instances where criminals have come into churches, claiming they can provide safety.
“We all know it’s not protection. It’s extortion,” Langbooi added.
Several churches in the metro have been robbed this year. The Assemblies of God Church in Kwazakhele and New Brighton has been hit twice since 2022.
Brian Davids of PrisonDent, an NPO for ex-offenders, said the situation is totally unacceptable.
“It’s unbelievable that we have changed so much as a society that we don’t acknowledge the House of the Lord,” he said.
“To go inside a church and rob people is an indication of moral decay, and we have to fight against that.”
Eastern Cape legislature Speaker Helen Sauls-August accepted the churches’ petition.
“Our role as the legislature is to accept petitions and then set a process in motion to ensure that the relevant government departments address these issues, and that is what we will do,” she said.
The petition also raised concerns about abortion and same-sex marriages. The churches have given the province 14 days to respond.
Pictured above: The Speaker of the Eastern Cape legislature, Helen Sauls-August, accepts the petition handed over by the churches.
Source: Anita Dangazele
