Armed with a roller, a couple of litres of paint and a zeal for God and our suburban youth, Rosebank member Penny Horwitz has been tackling the proliferation of graffiti in the neighborhoods around Fourways. For the last number of months, Penny has frequently spent hours a day removing illegal advertising and painting over unsightly graffiti.

Besides the fact that graffiti is damaging to property and grossly unattractive, Penny’s conviction is that drug dealers and criminal gangs use graffiti to advertise to their clients or to “tag” different properties as potential targets. As a result, she is confident that graffiti is directly linked to drug abuse amongst young people, so by removing graffiti, she is purposing to stem the tide of abuse and addiction.

None of us can deny the fact that drug abuse is a real and concerning problem. In a survey quoted in an article of a recent edition of the Fourways Review, it is estimated that as many as 33,6 % of teenagers in the affluent suburbs of Bryanston, Fourways, Northriding, Lonehill and Douglasdale admit to being addicted to some form of drug (You can read the article here).

So – perhaps as proposed in Malcolm Gladwell’s books “The Tipping Point” - Penny’s actions might turn out to be a small scale action that can reverberate with massive socially regenerative consequences.

Penny’s intrepid attitude can be summed up in her slogan, “Don’t ask what your country can do for you, but rather what you can do for your country and community”. More than just painting over graffiti, Penny is passionate about attacking the spiritual degeneration she sees as well. She writes that once she had started with painting over the graffiti, she felt drawn to pray firstly for those individuals who felt compelled to express themselves in this way, but also to pray for the people living in these blighted communities.

Being involved in this cleanup process has also presented Penny with many witnessing opportunities to pedestrians and passers’ by. Not only has she had the opportunity to pray for people in need, but she also frequently leaves “Little Pink Bibles” at the sites of frequent graffiti in the hope that individuals involved will find them. She writes that the experience of being able to witness to people has touched her in a very deep and powerful way and is the driving force encouraging her to continue.

Contact Penny

Getting rid of the graffiti in our suburbs in a massive task - one which no single person can tackle alone (not even one as zealous as Penny!). Penny is eager to motivate other people to get involved with her in this ministry.  If you would like to assist in any way – please contact Penny on 083 459 6161.

Did You Know?

• Unauthorized graffiti on public an private property is a criminal offence
• Being caught for Graffiti carries a fine of up to R12 000.
• JHB Metro Police are on your side if you remove or paint over graffiti and welcome your assistance
• Illegal or outdated advertisements can be reported and responsible parties may be fined R500 for each of their illegal signs.