IT WAS a road safety march that was sold as a 70km walk in one day, but proved to be nothing closer to that ambition.
By 6.30am on Good Friday, the eastern side of Orlando train station in Soweto was already draped in white. Men, women and children had adorned their sacred uniforms. Members of the Shembe Nazareth Baptist Church were embarking on their annual ritual to pray for road safety as thousands of pilgrims around the country travel to different destinations to observe Good Friday.
Shembe members, however, do not observe the day in which Jesus Christ was crucified. But the church's spiritual leader, Inkosi Phakama Shembe, has for the past 11 years used the day to pray for pilgrims to travel safely. He calls the walk "Arrive Alive".
Just before 7am, when Shembe had just arrived at Orlando in Soweto, the members immediately began the trip, walking towards Orlando East. They drew large crowds of onlookers as they walked through the streets. The same happened as they got to Diepkloof, where they had a first break. They continued with the journey after five minutes. They took a second break at Nasrec before the third one just past Southgate mall. After the fourth break at Winchester Hills, most started feeling the heat.
Petty Kheswa, 57, of Palm Ridge had to beg for a lift from us since her feet could not carry her anymore.
"This march has contributed in the reduction of road accidents in Johannesburg because this is where the Nazareth pray for road safety. If other people in other areas can do the same, there will be much improvement on road accidents during the Easter weekend," she said.
What does it take to complete the walk? we ask. "You need to prepare yourself mentally. Invite your ancestors to walk with you. Pray. If you cannot cope anymore, tell them (ancestors) to walk with you," she explained.
She then confessed: "Today I could not pull it off. I have done this for more than three years."
The final stop was a roadside between an office park and the shopping centre in Mayersdale at about 5.38pm. Shembe insisted: "We do not observe Good Friday as the Nazareth, but we pray for those travelling to different parts of the country in Good Friday." - xabav@sowetan.co.za
Prayers for peaceful easter
IT WAS a road safety march that was sold as a 70km walk in one day, but proved to be nothing closer to that ambition.
By 6.30am on Good Friday, the eastern side of Orlando train station in Soweto was already draped in white. Men, women and children had adorned their sacred uniforms. Members of the Shembe Nazareth Baptist Church were embarking on their annual ritual to pray for road safety as thousands of pilgrims around the country travel to different destinations to observe Good Friday.
Shembe members, however, do not observe the day in which Jesus Christ was crucified. But the church's spiritual leader, Inkosi Phakama Shembe, has for the past 11 years used the day to pray for pilgrims to travel safely. He calls the walk "Arrive Alive".
Just before 7am, when Shembe had just arrived at Orlando in Soweto, the members immediately began the trip, walking towards Orlando East. They drew large crowds of onlookers as they walked through the streets. The same happened as they got to Diepkloof, where they had a first break. They continued with the journey after five minutes. They took a second break at Nasrec before the third one just past Southgate mall. After the fourth break at Winchester Hills, most started feeling the heat.
Petty Kheswa, 57, of Palm Ridge had to beg for a lift from us since her feet could not carry her anymore.
"This march has contributed in the reduction of road accidents in Johannesburg because this is where the Nazareth pray for road safety. If other people in other areas can do the same, there will be much improvement on road accidents during the Easter weekend," she said.
What does it take to complete the walk? we ask. "You need to prepare yourself mentally. Invite your ancestors to walk with you. Pray. If you cannot cope anymore, tell them (ancestors) to walk with you," she explained.
She then confessed: "Today I could not pull it off. I have done this for more than three years."
The final stop was a roadside between an office park and the shopping centre in Mayersdale at about 5.38pm. Shembe insisted: "We do not observe Good Friday as the Nazareth, but we pray for those travelling to different parts of the country in Good Friday." - xabav@sowetan.co.za
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