A-MEN!
Derduisende manne staan saam at Athlone Stadium to pray against drugs and violence on the Cape Flats
AAN DIE BRAND: Ivor Swartz sweeping up the crowd at Athlone Stadium
Image: JP Crouch/ Nextis
THOUSANDS of Christian men from all over the Western Cape, and even some from Australia, pulled together at Athlone Stadium on Saturday for the Mighty Men Cape Flats event to pray for gang violence and drug abuse to end on the Kaapse Vlaktes.
With more than 22 000 tickets booked for the event, the manne pitched up big time, as local gospel star Neville D led the praise and worship, while testimonies from Ivor Swartz, Johnny Davids and Angus Buchan had men in tears and turbocharged to go out and make a positive difference in their communities.
Among those who prayed for the violence and gang wars and drug abuse to end was Jody Cupido.
Cupido and his Hope Revolution peers rocked up to Athlone Stadium in a van and a one-ton bakkie and stood out in their khakis. While their kleredrag drew attention, the work they do in the Eerste River region to combat gangsterism and drug abuse is second to none.
GIVE ME HOPE: Jody Cupido, left, and Hope Revolution members
Image: Dudley Carstens
Cupido told the Daily Voice: “We are Hope Revolution from the Faure area close to Eerste River.
“We are a Christian-based recovery centre, a rehab centre, for drug abuse and gangsterism.”
You can find out more about The Hope Revolution on their Facebook page or visit their website.
While Hope Revolution’s manne stood out in the stands, two men from Sons of God Reach stood out in their traditional Khoisan-klere in front of the stage "on the grass".
Jeswaine Williams and Robin Weber were both born in the Mother City, both former drug addicts who found the Lord and both now spend their time in Bredasdorp.
SONS OF GOD: Robin Weber, left, and Jesmaine Williams
Image: Dudley Carstens
Williams told the Daily Voice: “I was caught up in drugs and gangsterism for 17 years of my life. This month marks the 15th year of me being clean through the grace of Jesus Christ.
“We love Christ and we are there to make sure that the name of Jesus Christ is lifted up in all areas of our lives.”
Weber added: “I was born and raised in Mitchells Plain. I grew up without a father and was then caught up in drugs for 13 years and even smokkeled for three years.
"But now I’ve been sober for 13 years.”
The two then join forces and in one voice concluded: “We [at Sons of God Reach] believe no mother gave birth to a drug and no father raised a gangster.”