Police killings were one of the topics during a church service in Mohlakeng’s St Paul Anglican Church.
The service also was meant as an intervention to killing people with albinism; this after an incident in KwaZulu-Natal in which a young girl with albinism was killed brutally for her body parts. There is a misconception that killing albinos will enhance prosperity in a business or other aspects of life as the body parts will enhance the muti.
St Paul Anglican Church parish priest, Father Bradley Moloi, said the church, as part of society, had to provide an intervention on the two societal maladies of police and albino killings.
The service started with a procession of a police brass band and church leaders consisting of Father Bradly Moloi, Canon Tim Mcube, chaplains Captain Maluleke and Lieutenant Mabotho from the South African Police Service (SAPS), Kenny Mampondo and Molly Mpshe of Randfontein Public Safety, as well as Randfontein Police Colonel Marius Smith. Reverend Moss Thabalaka, chaplain of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) also was part of the service.
The West Rand Eagles Motorbike Club added to the parade. A candle-lighting ceremony was held during the service in commemoration of police and traffic personnel as well as people with albinism who had been murdered. Randfontein Executive Mayor, Mzi Khumalo, lit the three candles to pay tribute to these societal challenges.
Major General Theko Pharasi, Gauteng Police Deputy Commissioner who is a Randfontein resident as well as parishioner of the St Paul Anglican Church in his address added his voice against the spate of police killings. He said being a police officer is a ministry.
Mohlakeng is more dangerous than Hillbrow, residents don’t play a role in helping to curb crime. Crime prevention starts at home. In Gauteng over 3 000 women are raped.”
He went on to say the community has to be part of crime prevention structures to help the police.
Khumalo paid tribute to those living with albinism said he had an uncle who was very close to him. He had a wish he would marry a person with albinism.
“It should not happen in Mohlakeng as it did in KZN. We must work with the police.”
“Whatever we have gone through we say we are sorry, we have come to renew a convention with God,” said Father Bradly in paying tribute to the police and albino community.
Sonto Mazibuko, president of the Albinism Society of South Africa added, “How does Christianity and humanity relate to ritual killings? We have lost our first love of humanity hence the high crime rate. It is only a myth that albinos disappear when they die.”
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