![University of KZN (Westville campus) students at the NAL march on Sunday, October 6.](https://gatewaynews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/life1.png)
Pro-life groups throughout South Africa are gearing up for events on and around International Life Chain Sunday on October 5 to stand up for the right to life of pre-born babies.
The fight to protect unborn babies from abortions has stepped up ever since the promulgation of the Termination of Pregnancy Act in 1997. Since then more than a million babies have been legally denied their right to life. Internationally up to a million Christians in more than 1 400 locations have participated in International Life Chain Sunday events. The day had been observed every year since 1987 in the USA and since 1992 in SA.
In Durban National Alliance for Life (NAL), an umbrella body for most pro-life organisations in SA, will host the National March for Life which is set to start near Gateway north of the city on October 5 at 2.30pm. Each year has seen an increase in pro-lifers and over 3 000 are expected to join this year’s march, says Dr A van Eeden, Chairman of NAL. Most of the marchers are young people. The march will begin and end at the corner of Centenary Boulevard and Zenith Drive. More info can be obtained by emailing mail@dfl.org.za or calling 032 – 481 5550.
In Cape Town on October 5, Africa Christian Action (ACA) will host a Life Chain from 2pm to 4pm in Buitengracht Street, near the entrance to the Waterfront. More info is available by calling 021 -689 4480 or by emailing info@christianaction.org.za or from the Facebook event page. ACA is also available to provide advice to anybody wanting to organise a life chain in their city.
The 40 Days for Life prayer vigil campaign outside Marie Stopes Clinic at 91 Bree Street, Cape Town takes place from Wednesday, September 24 to Sunday, November 2. More info is available from Colette Thomas at colettethomas.hli@gmail.com.
In East London there will be a Life Chain on Saturday, October 4 from 11am to 12am on the corner of Oxford Street and St Mathew’s Roads. More info is available from Frans at 082 774 6649.
Taryn Hodgson of ACA says: “Through these Life Chains we pray that God will enable us to reach mothers who are considering abortion, medical personnel who must decide whether to participate in abortions or not, Christians who need to consider volunteering to work at a crisis pregnancy centre, pastors who need to begin preaching on when life begins and how we are to love our pre-born neighbours, journalists who should present the other side of the abortion story, politicians who need to enact legislation to protect pre-born babies from the violence of abortion, and lives that will be saved.”