MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay was once again the location for protest action on Sunday 14 June, this time peaceful in nature and in solidarity with those affected by the recent public unrest and violence, which had stemmed from xenophobia within the KwaNonqaba community at the end of May.
The sounds of prayers and hymns echoed throughout Mossel Bay as the March for Peace crowd peacefully moved through the streets of KwaNonqaba on Sunday afternoon, drawing attention from residents and growing in size along the way.
The march was organised by the faith-based fraternity of churches in Mossel Bay, in collaboration with the Mossel Bay Municipality. All were welcome to join, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or nationality.
"We as a church cannot keep quiet when we see bloodshed in Mossel Bay. We as a church are against xenophobia," said one of the organisers, a Mossel Bay faith leader, Simphiwe Mangwana.
Familiar faces were among the marching crowd, including Mossel Bay's mayor, Dirk Kotzé, the municipal manager, Colin Puren, Cllr Leon van Dyk, Mossel Bay Municipality's chairperson of the Community Safety Committee, as well as several other municipal councillors.
Rev Mzwandile Molo, the general secretary of the South African Council of Churches (SACC), was also present at the march and encouraged the public to remember: "No matter where someone is from or what language they speak, they were created in the image of God. To turn them away is to turn away God's image."
Sunday's march ended in prayer and with the singing of the South African national anthem.
The March for Peace grew in size as the crowd moved through the streets of KwaNonqaba. Photo: Gabriélla Siebritz
During the weekend of unrest, which had fizzled out by 31 May, two Mozambican men, Danilo Muianga (43) and Tomas Chunguane (27), were killed and more than 50 homes in Asla Park were set alight and destroyed by KwaNonqaba residents, who were protesting against the presence of illegal foreign nationals in Mossel Bay.
Hundreds of people from Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Limpopo were displaced and temporarily housed in places of safety, before they were transported back to their home countries and province a few days later.
On 9 June, two men were arrested for the murder of Chunguane, while the investigation into Muianga's death is still ongoing.
"The police are pursuing several leads," said a spokesperson for the Southern Cape Police, Warrant Officer Chris Spies.
A 30-year-old man believed to be the leader of the protesting group was also arrested on 8 June and was charged with incitement to commit public violence. He is expected to appear in the Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court on 22 June.
The March for Peace comes while South Africa awaits a so-called deadline of 30 June, set by anti-illegal immigration groups such as March and March.
According to these groups, undocumented foreigners should be out of the country by the end of this month.
Bishop Allan Kannemeyer prays for peace in Mossel Bay and South Africa. Photo: Gabriélla Siebritz
Previous articles:
- Mossel Bay to unite in a march for peace
- Two killed amid violent Asla Park unrest
- Mossel Bay unrest: 2 charged with murder, more arrests expected
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