Peaceful walk against crime, substance abuse

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Over a hundred young people joined by a number of community leaders and local stakeholders embarked on a peaceful walk against crime, youth murders and substance abuse in Thembalethu on Monday 17 June.

The walk was organised by young people of Thembalethu under the name "Youth in Action".

The walk is a response to ongoing youth violence that saw a number of young people murdered in Thembalethu and Lawaaikamp. Young people also want drug lords to leave Thembalethu and that police take drastic action against those who continue to sell drugs.

The march started at 10:00 at the Fourways intersection and went all the way through Ngcakane Street and Tabata Street, the longest and busiest streets in Thembalethu. Along the way, the young walkers sang emotional songs calling on Thembalethu residents to unite and help fight crime.

Their message was clear: "Enough is enough".

Snazo Gulwa, one of the organisers of the walk, said they were pleased with the outcome of the march and hoped that the message would be heard by all Thembalethu residents.

"Today we have decided that we are going to take a stand as young people of Thembalethu against substance abuse and youth-on-youth killings. This also serves as a warning to those who continue to sell dangerous weapons to young people. We also invited the police to come and accept our petition in which we stated our concerns, and we hope that we will continue to have engagements with regard to these matters," she said. Gulwa thanked the people of Thembalethu for coming out to join the walk.

"This is our first walk and we hope to have more of these campaigns in future. We are indeed grateful for all the support."

Read a previous article: "Enough is enough!"

The young people start their walk.