Church hands woman a new car

A LOCAL church organisation has extended an olive branch in the form of a car to a woman who was attacked and her vehicle torched during the recent unrest in Kwazulu-natal.

The ABC City Forum of Churches on Friday handed the keys of a Nissan Micra to Zandile Mthembu.

Mthembu, 24, of Kwamashu, attracted media attention following the unrest, with her story of how she was attacked and her vehicle torched while driving on Phoenix Highway on July 12.

She said she was on her way to Osindisweni Hospital to collect medication for her child’s grandmother when she came under attack.

“People threw stones at my car, one hit the car with a golf stick and others fired shots. I was so terrified. I pressed my accelerator to go away, but the road was blocked. Another car knocked me on my side. I was terrified, like I was watching a movie,” said Mthembu.

She said she still tried to drive off but the shooting continued.

“When I stopped the car they pulled me by my hair, grabbed me out of the car, searched the car and took my phone and R1 500 that was in the car. They hit me and didn’t ask me why I was there. I would’ve shown them proof of where I was going.

“They continued hitting the car and then torched the car. I cried when I watched it burn. I was scared having a gun pointed at me,” she said.

Mthembu said she was taken to a nearby river and made to lie down.

“I told them if you kill me it’s okay. You already killed me alive by burning my life savings. By the grace of God I survived. Some people helped me and left me by Bhambayi and I walked home to Kwamashu,” she said.

She said she was terrified to return to Phoenix.

Mthembu said after her car was burnt she did not know what happened to it. “I don’t hate anyone. Not all people are bad. I was helped by an Indian. Those people risked their lives to take me to a place of safety. Even amongst Africans there are robbers and bad people as well as good people.

“I am excited and happy to receive the car. I thought it would take a long time again for me to save and buy another one. But everything happens in God’s plan. I am very grateful and pleased. It’s a good step towards reconciliation. The community will see not all people are bad,” said Mthembu.

In a statement, the church organisation said: “As the church we have decided to begin this process by r eaching out to Zandile Mthembu. We would like to apologise to Zandile for her terrifying ordeal, offer her counselling, and work towards restoring her trust in humanity. We have faith and hope that this step of restitution will be the start of a process of healing, forgiveness and reconciliation in the community of Phoenix and surrounding areas.”

Pastor Justin Naidoo, spokesperson for ABC Ministries said the car was their olive branch as a symbol of peace.

“We are saying to this young lady this is your life savings and we as a church are making restitution. This is not everybody in our community. There has been a lot of negativity around this woman, but there was nothing fraudulent about what she said,” he said.