Durban -
The strife-torn community of Wentworth that has witnessed a surge in gang violence is taking to the streets in a “healing walk”on Saturday.
The walk will begin at the Christ The King Catholic Parish in Cycas Road at 8am and will proceed to gang hot spots.
The walk, which has the blessing of 12 church communities and worshippers at the local mosque, will snake towards Silvertree Road, into Victor Lawler and then Austerville Drive.
More than 1 000 people were expected to participate, community activist Desmond D’sa said.
“Along the route we will be stopping at various clusters of flats where the pastors of the churches will lead us in prayer. We are hoping that as we continue on our journey, more people will join us,” D’sa said.
The organisers plan to visit at least 10 drug hot spots where they plan to speak to drug users and peddlers in the hope of getting them to change.
Pastor John Bailey said reformed gangsters and drug addicts would be roped in to speak to youngsters.
“We want to expose the drug lords and tell them that enough is enough. We will no longer tolerate their presence in our community. It is time for us to stand up as a community and fight this scourge we are facing.
“Our objective is to bring to the community’s attention that drugs are a serious problem and that everyone is indirectly or directly affected and that only a collective effort by all of us can lead to the eradication of this scourge (drugs) from our community of Wentworth.
“We believe that government has not provided the necessary resources and manpower to bring an end to these illegal activities and criminals who openly violate and break the laws of the country.
“This minority are known and live in huge palaces in elite suburbs and drive the latest luxury vehicles. We want to reclaim our community of Wentworth from a few criminals and scoundrels that are holding us to ransom ,” he said.
Police are investigating a series of drive-by shootings and murders that have rocked the south Durban community. The violence has been linked to a turf war between rival gangs over the lucrative drug trade.