16 Days of Activism unites community
Kwatsaduza – To officially start the 16 Days of Activism against Women and Child Abuse campaign, the local police together with various organisations, hit the streets to educate the community on abuse.
The awareness campaign was launched on Friday with door to door visits, a parade, walk-about and pamphlet distribution.
“Under the theme ‘Count me in, together moving a non-violent South Africa Forward’, we as the Ekurhuleni East Cluster are visiting communities and educating them on the campaign.
“The cluster incorporates Springs, Tsakane, Heidelberg, KwaThema, Devon, Nigel, Dunnotar, Rathanda and Duduza.
Read: 16 days of reaching out to the community
“And though we have started at the John Dube Village and Masechaba Section in Duduza, on the other days we will also be visiting the other areas falling under this cluster, to share the same message,” says police spokesman Sgt Harry Manaka.
He adds that since they have incorporated this with World Aids Day, they have partnered with Life Line, Duduza Development Centre and Sizovelela Community Development.
“It is important for our communities to report incidents of abuse.
“And as the South African Police Service we remain committed to helping those who are being abused.
Read: 16 Days of Activism awareness
“We also encourage a sense of morality that needs to come back in our societies, especially in matters of rapes of children and the abuse of women and children,” he says.
The local law enforcement officers even took their campaign a step further, encouraging abused men to come forward.
Victim supporter of Life Line Ekurhuleni Dudu Tshabalala express that they are tired of the abuse, rape and domestic violence of all individuals.
Therefore they encourage people to speak up.
She also says their office at 1 Nala Street in Duduza, always has social workers available to assist the abused from Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm.
And from 4pm to 7am, their victim supporters can be found at the Duduza Police Station where they are available to help victims.
Social auxiliary worker from Sizovelela Community Development Thato Ramalamula says their job is to help in dealing with social crime prevention through various programmes.
These include diversion, school-based matters, awareness campaigns, school holiday programmes and reintegration of ex-convicts.
For more information on Life Line Ekurhuleni contact 011 730 4900 and Sizovelela Community Development on 011 810 1008.
