BOPHELONG – Faith-based organizations together with residents of Bophelong embarked on a peaceful march against crime on Saturday, June 10.
Demonstrating from Sekotlong in Extension 17, up to the business hub in Extension 6, dozens of passionate community members together with pastors, and activists joined hands in a clarion call to fight gangsterism, housebreaking, Gender-based Violence, and murder in their area.
The march comes after an alarming increase in the scourge of murders, house robberies, and hijackings occurring in the area in recent months.
In an effort to mediate the love-hate relationship between cops and the community, several South African Police Services officers and Community Policing Forum members were called to join the peaceful march.
The entourage of marchers that saw the kasi come to a standstill when they passed, carrying placards written “zero tolerance to GBV, I am not for sale, and STOP,” among many others, sang, and prayed all the way to their intended destination.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Coordinator at #ReKaofelaKasi and community leader, Simon Nkosi said the march was a success and their envisioned aim is slowly being achieved.
“The growing crime occurrences in our community have left us with no choice but to demonstrate and call for the end of this scourge. We invited the police and the CPF as a way to revoke the relationship with the people. Our residents have lost hope with the police and ours was to mediate that relationship. Police play an important role, and them giving the residents their committed word that they will assist with crime and always be visible, brought back hope,” he said.
Nkosi said the march was a success and they will continue to organize such, should crime statistics continue to rise instead of going down.
“Our people are happy, that’s one sign of a successful march. We hope the police will deliver on their promises. More blue lights on our streets will serve the purpose we envisioned,” he added.
Partner organizations in attendance included Bophelong Evangelist Ministry Fellowship (BEMF), Hashtag Rekaofela Kasi, Photholloha, Dirang Ka Kagiso, and Ward Committee members from Ward 23.
BEMF Chairperson Apostle Lebese Mothijoa said “The march was actually initiated by our organization after the spate of killings of our young people almost every weekend before the Easter holidays, and also the escalation of other criminal activities.
“We asked our community members to unite and work together in fighting against this evil,” he said.
