Residents of Mitchell’s Plain held a prayer walk to unite against crime in Tafelsig, on Thursday May 18.
The group of residents started praying from Kilimanjaro and Paulseberg streets to Pyrenees Street as they made their way towards Searidge Park Primary School.
They stopped at parks and childcare facilities where they symbolically extended their hands over the play areas, praying for God to protect children playing there.
Mitchell’s Plain SAPS members Captain Harry Brickles and Captain Ian Williams led the walk.
Minifootsteps Kindergarten principal Ursula Peters, with the help of the Mitchell’s Plain Community Police Forum (CPF), aims to mobilise the community to unite through prayer as a part of a crime prevention strategy.
Mitchell’s Plain CPF deputy chairperson Ashley Potts said they believed that declaring publicly the need for God to take his rightful place would in itself be a deterrent to crime.
“This call (followed) a spate of recent atrocities against our children and women in and across Mitchell’s Plain,” he said.
Mr Potts said they then stopped at the Thusong Centre where they prayed for the staff as it was a venue frequently used to host after-school activities.
“We asked God to protect our children from the evil deeds of men who heartlessly prey on them as innocent persons. We also stopped midway on the route and again stretched out our hands over the community of Tafelsig, asking God to break the stronghold of violence against women and children.
“Another significant part of the walk was being called back by staff at the Learn and Play Educare in Pyrenees Street to pray for the children. Pastors on the walk laid their hands on these little kids and pronounced a blessing over them,” he said.
The residents ended the walk at the Available Outreach Ministries church.
Mr Potts is encouraging residents, organisations, pastors and members of the faith-based community to join the prayer walk opposite Searidge Park Primary School, near the blue and white tent on Thursday June 22, from 10am.
For more information contact Ursula 073 858 8745 or Ashley 082 887 6440.
