The Bhambayi community in Inanda, KZN, took to the streets last week in peaceful protest to unite against rising crime and to ask the police to move closer to the area.
Inanda, South Africa (11 August 2023) – In all the headlines about the Cape Town Taxi Strike, a peaceful protest calling for the end of violence in the Bhambayi community was overshadowed. The community took part in a march on the 4th of August 2023 to demand an end to the violence in the area. The Bhambayi Project, a local NPO, was there alongside the community to march in peace.
Last Friday, the 4th of August 2023, saw the community of Bhambayi take to the streets to make a stand against crime and unacceptable levels of lawlessness in the area. This march was refreshingly different. There was no single political party driving an agenda and ordinary citizens arrived in their numbers, fully prepared to put aside their differences, who they support, and what they believe. They gathered and united around what they had in common: the desire to have safe streets, and to work together to make this a reality.
“Inanda is a place with a rich heritage. So many of our best leaders, and many politicians are from here. We want people to be able to visit this place without worrying about crime.” said Mnakiseni Mngadi, known in the community as Madlokovu, a member of the local Community Policing Forum.
“The purpose of this march was to unite and use our voices to say we are tired of the crime. We are standing up together to work against it. We invited all religious leaders, stakeholders, NPOs and NGOs in order to create awareness about where to get help for the various crimes. If you have a problem, don’t take a gun and kill somebody. Get help from the right places,” said Madlokovu.
The group that arranged the march requested that the police come closer to the community with mobile units. The hope is that with active and engaged community members, and more visible police presence there will be a dramatic reduction in crime.
Sneh Mdibi, a youth worker at the Bhambayi Project, a local NPO shared: “I loved that the leaders were reminding men to protect women, not hurt them. People want to feel safe.”
Most striking about this march is that even though it was positioned as a march, the people who joined in will tell you it was a prayer walk, where people were united in declaring their love for their community and their commitment to stand up and bring about change.
It was a moving time of dancing, embracing, singing and declaration of the reality they desire for their home. People were empowered to bring about change, get help from the right places and put their differences aside to choose unity.
There was a tangible sense that the people are bringing about the change they want to see and that this march was a powerful line drawn in the sand.
This community wants a better life and they are prepared to put in the work to make it a safer, more harmonious community for all!
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