THE Nazareth Baptist Church (Shembe) members painted the Durban CBD white as they engaged in a holy and peaceful walk.
The Shembe Church held the holy walk, which began at King Dinuzulu Park and headed to Moses Mabhida, where an annual prayer was held.
As they walked down the streets of Durban dressed in their white regalia, they were singing and worshipping. Shoppers and those who were in the city during this time had to stop and stare. Some were excited to see Unyazi Lwazulu Mduduzi Shembe as he led the walk.
The Minister of Police Bheki Cele, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Zizi Kodwa and the KZN premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube were part of the walk with the Shembe Church, which took place on Thursday, 23 June.
Several African National Congress (ANC) leaders participated in the religious gathering. ANC regional and national structures leaders were Siboniso Duma, the provincial chairperson and Sphesihle Zulu, the General Gizenga Mpanza regional secretary.
Shembe leader Nyazi Lwezulu Mduduzi Shembe led the walk of about 100 000 Shembe congregants until they reached Moses Mabhida Stadium.
Speaking at the stadium, Mduduzi Shembe said: "We are here today to pray for our province and the entire country. We are praying for unity and peace."
He also warned the church against public protests where they burn roads.
"When you want water, we should write a letter to the mayor and then wait for his response.
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There is no need to go to the streets and burn. We are also appealing to those who hijack cars and take them to Mozambique to stop," he said.
He said the church should also pray for the whole country to respect one another and pray for next year's elections to run smoothly.
"Government should also provide jobs for the unemployed," he said.
The KZN premier Nomisa Dube-Ncube said the walk was for prayer for the province.
"We are here to ask God to help us in the problems faced by the providence, such as unemployment, teenage pregnancy and other social ills," she said.
She said regarding the job issue. They are going to work hard to create job opportunities.
"There are programs that we will introduce very soon. We also spoke about the fact that there should be permanent employment," she said.
