April 26, 2005
By Tabisa Mntengwana
MAYORAL committee member for public safety, Councillor Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, made her way through the bustling traffic, noisy trading stalls and pedestrians to the entrance of St. Mary's Cathedral in Wanderers Street.
Here she was met by representatives of the Anglican church, who have approached the City for help to upgrade the neighbourhood. The church elders say local traders and residents do not show respect for the sanctity of the building.
"This church is our pride and joy, the central branch for all the Anglican churches in Johannesburg, and we want it to stay that way," said the church's social responsibility co-ordinator, Columbus Malebo.
On Tuesday, 26 April Nkosi-Malobane, accompanied by representatives from Pikitup, the Johannesburg Roads Agency, the Metropolitan Trading Company and the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, went on an inspection tour of neighbourhood.
Among the concerns raised by the inner city church is the noise from a second hand clothing shop at the church's entrance, traders blocking the chapel's doorway, the mushrooming of illegal taxi ranks, and crime.
After greeting the church elders, Nkosi-Malobane headed straight to the corner of Hoek and Plein Streets near the main entrance of the church, where she stopped to talk to pedestrians and traders.
Several busy stalls stand on the corner of the street and Nkosi-Malobane said their location would be re-evaluated. If they were removed, the main entrance to the church would be visible and spacious, she added.
The councillor also stopped to check traders' permits.
Once she had conducted a thorough check of the surrounds, Nkosi-Malobane went back to the church. Inside the atmosphere was in stark contrast to that of the street: quiet, tranquil and reverent.
Statues, engravings and paintings of Anglicans who contributed to the church and society adorn the walls and nooks of the church. There is a picture of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, lists of members of the church who died in World War I and World War II and a statue of the Virgin Mary.
The City has promised to help the church become an attractive place for worshippers and tourists. "This church shouldn't only be a place of pride for Anglicans, all of the people of the city should be able to come and worship here," she said.
"As the City, we want the atmosphere inside to be the same as the outside," she said.
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