Transnet marches against abuse

TRANSNET Port Terminals [TPT] and SABC staff took to the streets of Durban on 25 November to support the official start of 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.

The group held a march to create general awareness in an effort to shifting mindsets and playing their part in creating a society free of violence.

According to TPT’s General Manager for Risk and Corporate Affairs, Zeph Ndlovu: “This initiative is a bold step in the right direction towards tackling gender-based violence and harm to our children. This kind of violence is sadly universal and our outrage and anger must be seen and heard. We as South Africans should make the invisible visible.”

In addition to the march, the trees within the Kingsmead Office Park were wrapped with white and red fabric to create more awareness around the initiative for the entire 16 day duration, which includes World AIDS Day on 1 December.

The activism period ends with the International Human Rights Day on 10 December when the whole world commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that affirms every human being’s rights, freedoms and entitlements.

This year, Ethekwini Municipality will take a new approach to the 16 days of activitism campaign by participating in a series of dialogues with communities.

The 16 Days campaign was launched on 25 November under the theme: “Count Me In: Together Moving a Non-Violent South Africa Forward,” to encourage South Africans to act for a safer society for women and children.
Government will during the 16 Days campaign convene national dialogues in all district municipalities and encourage communities to share personal stories and find collective solutions to end the violence and abuse.

Minister in the Presidence responsible for Women, Susan Shabangu, said the dialogues will not only engage with women, but also with men’s organisations.

“Sessions will be held separately with women and men to allow them to participate more freely. They will then be brought together because we think it’s important to bring the men because there’s violence because of them… but mainly it is about how we deal with that and how do we change the mind-set,” said Minister Shabangu.

The dialogues will also include public education and help raise awareness. Furthermore, it will help government assess the responsiveness of the Criminal Justice System.