By Nobuhle L. Ngema
“On the first of January 2023, bodies of two females were found brutally murdered, few other incidents happened after that. In November last year, five bodies were found in the open field, there have been several discoveries of dead bodies only this year, we have also had victims of fire where the most painful one was of witnessing a young mother losing all her three children in a shack fire; to mention but a few. Unfortunately, there are times where police has a little to do…” said Andile Daemane, councillor of Windmill Park, Ward 99.
After so many incidents and killings, the community of Ward 99, Windmill Park, took on an initiative of having an inaugural day of prayer on the 15th of March 2025, and the plan is to have it annually. “We are a country that is made up of more than 90% percent of Christians, it is a given that when we feel like the burden is too hard to carry, we turn to God. We believe that prayers can reach where human knowledge and capabilities cannot.”
Mr Daemane dpoesn’t see anything contemporary about all that is happening. He still believes it needs to be prevented. He said, “a day when incidents such as this becomes a norm will be a doomed day for us.”
He stated how the community of Windmill Park has no love and care for one another, and he believes some of the contributing factors to this is social media. However, they, as a community, are determined to do whatever it takes to live in harmony, and this is what they are trying to achieve on today’s day.
“A big change will start with each and every one of us,” he said. “The biggest change I want to see is Unity.”
Which is why they have implemented programs such as women forums, youth platforms, and have recently launched the safety team that is concentrated on the safety of their residents. With prayer, they believe that a family that prays together, sticks together.
Andile Daemane tries as a councillor to be on the ground, and avails himself to people’s needs whenever they need it the most.
“We work with police and other government departments,” he stated.
If there was anything I could change, he said, it would be inculcating the spirit of Ubuntu, and that people should love their country more; I think we are loosing that.
What Mr councillor wishes to achieve through today’s prayer is healing of wounds.
Lastly, he added, for those who might be wondering why their prayer session would involve candles, is because they believe candles signifies hope and new beginnings.
For more information, contact Andile Daemane on:
084 257 0359
