Gateway Church march against drugs and for employment
Youth leader Loyisile Ntunja says that their prayers were focused on issues affecting young people.
Gateway Church International’s young people marched against alcohol and drugs, unemployment, and other issues.
The youth of the church held a different march, not like the usual marches, but theirs was peaceful as they prayed along the routes.
The march was held on Friday, June 16 and they marched from their church to different points in the city. Ed-U College, outside the municipality offices, St George Park and St Aquinas School were the points where they prayed and sang.
Members believe that there is power in praying as they were praying against drug abuse and for employment opportunities. Emalahleni is listed as having the second-highest rate of drug abuse in the country.
Youth leader Loyisile Ntunja says that their prayers were focused on mentioned issues affecting young people. They were also concerned about some schools which were very close to taverns and brothels and they were praying that the municipality will vote against the Bella Bill amendments to basic education. They prayed for wisdom to the leaders to protect parents and to make decisions that will be beneficial to young people.
Ubuhle Malinga believes that Youth Day is a time for young people to gather and be thankful to God for the opportunities afforded to them. “It is also a time to pray for schools and for the Department of Education to work harder towards the betterment of the future of the next generation,” she said.
Another young member of the church believes that June 16 symbolises freedom against drugs and alcohol abuse, a better future for young people and being afforded all the opportunities to benefit the country.
Other changes that have raised concern include the punishment for parents who fail to enrol their children for Grade R (12-month jail time is on the table); and the requirement that all homeschoolers must be registered.
The Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Bill was first drafted in 2017, but the current version was introduced to Parliament last year. It is aimed at amending the South African Schools Act of 1996 and the Employment of Educators Act of 1998. The idea is to align them with the developments in education, but the bill has not been welcomed by all.
Once passed, the Bela Bill will provide provincial heads of education departments the power to make a final decision on a school’s language and admissions policy. The role of school governing bodies will be significantly smaller. For instance, a school’s language policy will be determined by the Members of the Executive Council (MEC) and not by the School Governing Body (SGB).
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