KwaThema – Members of the Justice and Peace marched on KwaThema streets calling for residents to join the fight against gender violence.
This is the social advocacy agency within the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg. They marched from Bulithando Park to Rapodile Street telling the residents about the prevalence of gender-based violence.
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During the march, they lit a candle to commemorate those who have lost their lives as a result of abuse.
The march was part of the annual national 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
Father Chaka Motanyane says through the department, the Catholics can affirm their faith by actions upholding the dignity of each person, and seeking to transform society to become a just world for everyone.
“The department is focusing on gender-based violence to help the government and the police to reducing the incidents of gender-based violence.
“We also aim to educate the communities about factors and situations that contribute towards such violence.
“We are encouraging the residents to report such cases to the police, and calling on the police to increase the information about the channels to follow to report gender-based violence.
“No one’s rights should be violated, or no one should live in fear of being hurt by other people,” he says.
Event organiser, Kgomotso Ndlovu, says they wore orange colours to highlight that the Orange Doek Movement, which was started two years ago, was concerned about gender-based violence.
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“We are calling on residents to speak out and seek help, there is nothing to be ashamed of.
“There are different departments which are set up to help the victims to recover, and also offer empowerment programmes,” she adds.
