Readers’ donations get church band going again
Instruments worth R100,000 were stolen from the Samora Machel band and sold for scrap
A youth church band in Samora Machel has been revitalized by donations from readers after their stolen brass instruments were sold for scrap metal. The theft occurred in July, leaving the band with an estimated replacement cost of over R100,000. Music teacher Marie Skeen from Plettenberg Bay, touched by their plight, donated two euphoniums and an alto horn.
Other donors contributed cash for a new tenor horn and a trumpet. Pastor Philiso Jeffrey Jonas, who founded the band in 2008, expressed gratitude for the support, stating it allowed the young musicians to resume practice. Skeen, nearing retirement, no longer needed the donated instruments. However, larger instruments like tubas remain unreplaced.
Band master Anathi Cishe reported that members are eager to practice again, but are now limited to alternating practice sessions on Fridays and Sundays. Jonas filed a police report, leading to the arrest of three suspects, with the case set to be heard on 29 September. The stolen instruments were reportedly dismantled and sold for about R800.
Written by urgent.news from GroundUp's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
