MOSSEL BAY, WESTERN CAPE — Following recent incidents of public unrest, a unified Mossel Bay peace march took to the streets of KwaNonqaba to advocate for social cohesion. Community members, faith-based leaders, and municipal officials gathered to condemn the violence and address the root causes of community frustrations, emphasizing that unity is essential to overcome unemployment and poverty.
Organized collaboratively by a local faith-based fraternity and the municipality, the demonstration was a direct response to the violence and public disruptions that recently shook parts of the town. Throughout the event, speakers stressed that aggressive actions would not resolve systemic challenges. Instead, they issued a joint call to action for the government and local employers to actively address the underlying issues driving the unrest.
Addressing the crowds, Rev. Mzandile Molo, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches, firmly rejected the recent violence and redirected focus toward economic struggles.
“Violence is not the answer. The foreigner is not our enemy. Our enemy is poverty and the poverty that must be dealt with here in Mossel Bay,” Rev. Molo stated. He urged everyone to dedicate their time to eradicating local poverty and called on employers to hire individuals for their skills rather than exploiting them for cheap labor. Furthermore, he emphasized the need for accountability, urging the police and the Department of Home Affairs to properly execute their mandated duties.
Echoing the call for restraint and lawful conduct, Mossel Bay Mayor Dirk Kotze addressed the community’s sentiments regarding foreign nationals. He urged residents to recognize that people from other regions often arrive seeking opportunities because they share the same basic human needs.
Mayor Kotze asked the public to trust law enforcement agencies to manage the situation and warned against the broader negative consequences of harming others. Clarifying the municipality’s stance on immigration, he said, “The message is clear. We don’t want illegal foreigners in our country, but other people they’re welcome. If they’re documented and if they’re legally in our country, we welcome them.”
The event concluded on a hopeful note, with religious leaders expressing gratitude for the peaceful turnout. Mzukisi Mila, a local religious leader, credited the success of the march to the active support of the residents.
“We bless God for that and we are still saying peace be still,” Mila shared with the attendees. “We are still preaching peace in our land.”
Organizers of the march hope that this powerful display of solidarity will help the town turn the page on recent tensions, fostering a renewed sense of safety and shared purpose in Mossel Bay.
