DURBAN-The ABC Forum of churches has promised to hand over a car to one of the victims whose car was burnt during the violence in Phoenix two weeks ago.
Amid the unrest and looting, it is alleged that there was racial profiling at roadblocks set up by communities and people were killed, some were assaulted and vehicles were torched.
Pastor Justin Naidoo said the organisation felt passionately that while the justice system took its course, it had to step in and try to restore peace, and provide a tangible gesture of reconciliation between the embattled communities.
“As the church we reached out to Zandile Mthembu. The young woman shared on TV how she was traumatised after her cellphone was stolen, her life threatened, and her car set alight by a group of men manning a roadblock on the outskirts of Phoenix. We have put together some funds and will be presenting Zandile with a car, a Nissan Micra, as a gesture of goodwill,” said Naidoo.
He said the church with a network of over 300 church members of both races felt the olive branch gesture was a step in the right direction.
“In the early 1990s Phoenix took the lead in fostering racial integration. Foresthaven Secondary School in Phoenix was one of the first Indian public schools in South Africa to welcome black learners, introduce English as a second language, and incorporate IsiZulu into the school curriculum.
“Students were bussed into Phoenix from areas including Bhambayi, KwaMashu and Inanda. Over the past three decades, Phoenix has become a racially integrated community. Our churches have also for many years been actively involved in the neighbouring communities of Bhambayi, Amaoti and Zwelitsha, working hand in glove with residents on local upliftment programmes,” said Naidoo.
The handover is set to take place on Friday at the Angelus Mission Church.
*Zandile Mthembu has declined media interviews until the official handover.
THE MERCURY