Manenberg church at risk, needs help
HELP: AFM, Manenberg HELP: AFM, Manenberg
A Manenberg church is in desperate need of fencing to secure their place of worship, which is located “in the heart of gang violence”, they say.
The AFM Church is in Renoster Street, where shootings occur regularly.
Pastor Ronald Page says the church is struggling to raise money for the fence, which will cost R30 000.
“The church had fencing but it was damaged six months ago. The building is at risk because of gangsters and unsavoury characters who roam the church grounds,” he explains.
“Children have access to [a metal] container which is currently on our grounds and often they get hurt to the point where they are rushed to hospital because they play on the container. “
Pastor Ronald says the infrastructure is 45 years old and his church only has 150 members.
“Due to a lack of financial resources and external support, it has become more and more challenging to maintain our church building and grounds,” he says.
“The children vandalised the previous fencing because they wanted to use the premises for a playground and because there is no security they broke the trees and even stole the plants we planted.
“Some of the community members chase the kids away, but the others don’t care. And gangsters use the church ground to hide their drugs and even their weapons.”
The church has already been burgled and members have tried to raise funds to help, but cannot meet the target due to other expenses.
If you would like to help fence the kerk, phone Pastor Ronald on 063 257 9400.