ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: The Helenvale Peace Initiative

The Helenvale Peace Initiative is a collaborative effort between the South African Police Services (SAPS) and Victory Ministries International (VMI). Other stakeholders are tavern owners, shop owners, school principals, taxi operators and community leaders. There were unfortunately no buy-in from clergy and pastors as even they are resistant to the move because VMI is involved.

“Having grown up in Liebenberg Road and staying at 3 Stag Street, Helenvale after school and schooling at Bayview Primary School, I always believed that Helenvale was an uncut diamond, waiting to be discovered by the nations of the world.” – Pastor Jerome Liberty

A five-year-plan is being developed, during which period several initiatives will be undertaken to give Helenvale and the community a “facelift”. The whole process entails the unearthing of the spiritual history of Helenvale, the spiritual strongman and every root of ungodliness prevalent in the area. Research will also be conducted in order to deal best with the socio-economic challenges experienced by the Helenvale-community. An album of the NOW and AFTER will be developed; spanning the five year period.

Too little is said that we present the Kingdom of God in order to bring about change. A line is being drawn against all types of crime; amongst others, murder, rape, drug abuse and drug trafficking. The community has now been mobilised into an “uprising” against grudges, crime, rape, murder, teenage pregnancies, and gangsterism.

The relevant stakeholders, school principals, the SAPS, various interest groups and the clergy and pastors have been drawn into several meetings in order to come up with strategies to impact Helenvale.

The Helenvale Peace Initiative is one of the first peaceful demonstrations to be held against the crime that is prevalent in the area. NO will be promoted as a positive message – applying Focault’s theory of taking advantage of “power from the bottom”- believing that the people can do it themselves. The community brings a positive message that says: “NO to vandalism, drugs, rape, crime, gangsters, stolen goods, guns and pornography!”

The initiative is to restore order and to add value to Helenvale and its surroundings. What is about to transpire in Helenvale will be a milestone that will plot a chapter in history; of a once hopeless community that has been restored in dignity, self-worth and in heritage.

This initiative marks the beginning of a three month drive, with the objective of winning the trust of the different role players in the Helenvale community. Two major outreach events were held recently; the schools outreach and a talent competition were excellently attended by thousands of youngsters.

On Saturday, 19 February, Brigadier Neveling, station commander at Gelvandale police station, reported that crime has dropped significantly since the first joint event by VMI and the SAPS. Brigadier Neveling informed the crowd that no crimes were reported in Helenvale on the day of the Peace Initiative. It is safe to say that the face of Helenvale was finally discovered through the hopes, dreams and God-given talent of so many children and the youth.

A Port Elizabeth Northern areas teenage rapper and his mother have become local heroes in troubled Helenvale after they visited 10 local schools with a powerful message that “genoeg is genoeg” (enough is enough). Jean-Mikyle Roos, 16, who penned the poignant “Genoeg is genoeg” rap song, and his mother Patricia Arnold, accompanied police and church representatives in a week-long school visit campaign aimed at encouraging learners to participate in a high-profile talent contest sponsored by Victory Ministries International (VMI). Jean, a Grade 10 learner at Andrew Rabie High School, had special permission from his school to participate in the school visits.

Patricia told the school children how she was raped at the age of 12 and became addicited to drugs thereafter until she became a follower of Jesus Christ in 2003, by which time she was popping 40 tablets a day. Jean rapped about it being time to have done with hunger, hopelesness, murder, drugs, gangs and jail.

“It had a great impact on the children because it spoke about their lives. They were excited and sang the chorus while I rapped. And while my mom spoke they listened attentively: I could see that some of them had been through what she shared,” said Jean. Many of the children responded to invitations to share their problems with Patricia and were now undergoing counselling for rape, sexual abuse and other serious problems. Jean said he had become a Christian himself six years ago after he saw the huge difference that Jesus had made in his mother’s life.

On Saturday, 19 February, Jean performed his signature rap song on a specially erected stage in front of a crowd of 3 000 people who gathered in a local park to attend VMI’s Helenvale Peace Initiative talent show. Jean said many Helenvale schoolchildren who attended were visibly moved by the day’s events which showed them that there was more to aim at in life than becoming a gangster. He said he noticed a number of “big gangsters” in the audience and could see that they too were touched. He said police reported that in stark contrast to the norm, no crimes were recorded in the area that Saturday.

In a future edition of Gateway News we will post a video clip of Jean performing his famous rap and we will publish the words, which include the following chorus line:

Genoeg is genoeg, kom ons almal staan saam
Daas baie wat se Helenvale vergaan
So kom ons maak vrede vergeet die verlede
en maak ‘n verskil in mekaar se lewe.

Jean’s father, Fabian Arnold, who said he had also been a drug and alcohol abuser before he became a Christian, said he was very proud of what Jean and Patricia had achieved. As a staff member of VMI he was actively involved in the church’s work to uplift the area


In addition to the Helenvale Peace Initative which was offering positive alternatives to children, VMI is tackling the drug problem by producing a drug awareness DVD. A team of people including former addicts, churchmen, legal professionals and teachers are collaborating on the DVD which would deal with knowledge about the different types of drugs on the streets, how to identify warning signs of drug problems, and how to deal with problems. The project was undertaken after consultation with local school principals.

VMI will continue meeting with twenty school principals to address socio economic challenges in the area. Watch this space for more news on VMI’s intervention of restoring God’s peace and the fear of the Lord.