Desiree de Lange, who led a prayer walk with women in February, has now organised a march this Saturday against crime in Steurhof. Picture: Supplied
The Steurhof community is being called on to promote peace and stand against crime by joining a march through the streets this Saturday from 3pm.
The rally is being organised by Desiree de Lange, a Steurhof resident on behalf of the Heavenly Highway Ministries in association with the AFM Hosanna Fire Fellowship.
The march will start on the corner of Main and Francis roads, proceed through Firtree, Viooltjie and Mimosa streets, before heading to Old Kendal Road and Azalea Street to arrive at South Peninsula High School hall.
A church service will be held at the school hall followed by an address by Diep River police chief Lieutenant Colonel Ansley Jacobs.
Churches from surrounding areas, including the AFM Hosanna Fire Fellowship in Retreat, had been invited to attend, and Ms De Lange said she expected at least 200 women to join the march to be led by the police and Plumstead Neighbourhood Watch.
“The problem in our community is a lot of parents don't want to acknowledge that their children are doing anything wrong,” said Ms De Lange.
“There's too many drugs and drug addicts in our community. People that go to work early in the morning are complaining about seeing young men sitting outside and some of them have been robbed. They are breaking into people's houses when they are working and nobody is at home - these are the reasons why we are going to stand up.”
Lieutenant Colonel Jacobs said reported crime in the area was minimal with burglaries and thefts being the most common.
“According to the organisers of the event, drug abuse is a concern, but very few of these incidents are on record. Most of the concerns mentioned by the community are not reported to SAPS. Members of the community are urged to report the abuse or selling of drugs to the police. The abuse of drugs normally results in the increase of other crimes, such as street robberies, theft, and burglaries. It also has a negative effect on family lives and causes domestic violence at times,” he said.