On 31 May 2025, residents of Manenberg, along with local officials and peace advocates, gathered to commemorate the 12th Anniversary of the Declaration of World Peace by HWPL through an energetic community clean-up and engagement event. Co-hosted by HWPL, Gun Free South Africa, the Lerato Family Foundation, Soka Gakkai International, the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), and the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), the event was part of the ‘Peace My City’ campaign. It marked the second Peace Zone initiative in Cape Town’s high-crime areas during the month of May. Participants were generously served meals donated by the Food for Life Initiative from the Hare Krishna movement, with additional refreshments provided by the Mustadafin Foundation. This initiative was not held as a symbolic gesture but aimed to unite citizens and demonstrate the true meaning of peace through community action and sustainable development.
Supported by Ward Councillor Deidree de Vos, local NGOs, and religious leaders, residents of Manenberg participated, sharing a common vision of reclaiming public spaces for safety, youth development, and long-term transformation. The event reflected a strong sense of unity, drawing in local residents and supporters like Cllr Axolile Notywala. The clean-up was effectively led by the Peace My City Committee, including Cllr Mzwakhe Nqavashe and Mr Aziz Hartley, who ensured smooth coordination and community participation.
This initiative arose in response to local calls for more hands-on peacebuilding activities, following recent community dialogues on gender-based violence and peace education. Ms. Patsy Daniels shared her emotional connection to the event, emphasizing the importance of community ownership in keeping the area clean. She was uplifted by the news that six local officials will be employed to help manage waste and prevent illegal dumping.
Cllr Nqavashe expressed hope in the growing impact of the Peace My City Project, noting that more community members are stepping up. He encouraged everyone to dedicate just a few hours over the weekend to help keep public spaces safe and clean. A Manenberg resident was inspired by the volunteers’ efforts and called on the rest of the community to get involved, linking a cleaner environment to reducing crime and improving safety. Mr. Aziz Hartley praised the dedication of the volunteers, highlighting the importance of collective responsibility. “It doesn’t matter who made the mess,” he said, “what matters is that we did our part.”
Manenberg’s Peace Zone will serve as a community-owned safe space for sports, cultural activities, and inclusive dialogue, can essential response to decades of violence and social instability. As part of HWPL’s Legislate Peace campaign, this effort is reinforcing cross-sector partnerships throughout the city and highlighting the transformative power of grassroots peacebuilding. These community-led efforts were driven by the Peace My City Committee, a coalition of local stakeholders committed to building sustainable peace from the ground up. Their leadership ensured the event was grounded in the community’s lived experiences and focused on real, long-term solutions rather than symbolic actions. In a region where gun violence remains a persistent challenge—as underscored by recent research into the drivers of firearm-related crime in Southern Africa—this Peace Committee’s work stands as a compelling counter-narrative of civic resilience and empowerment.
