As part of their 16 Days of Activism outreach campaign, the SAPS and the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) in Gauteng hosted an event highlighting gender-based violence on November 28.
The event was held at the Victory Tabernacle Church, Reiger Park, under the theme of “Collaborating with Communities in Eradicating Social Ills”.
The campaign, which runs from November 25 to December 10, aims to mobilise communities, especially men, to join hands with the government in the fight to curb violence against women.
Community members from Reiger Park and Ramaphosa and Joe Slovo informal settlements came out in large numbers to attend this educative event.
Members from the SAPS, EMPD, Boksburg Correctional Services and other relevant stakeholders attended the event.
Before they commenced with the programme, a moment of silence was observed for women and children who have been killed in the country.
Candles were lit in honour of those who died at the hands of their abusers.
Negative reports
Popcru’s second deputy president, Bonny Marekwa, said they hosted the campaign in Reiger Park because of the negative reports about crime and drugs in the area.
“Our objective was to raise awareness in Reiger Park about the effects of gender violence, with the goal of having a violence-free future,” said Marekwa.
“We also want to encourage residents to act against social crimes that are contributing to gender-based violence and create an inclusive dialogue in communities to eliminate social ills that are perpetuating crime.”
During her keynote address, Marekwa said violence against women and children in communities has become an unparalleled challenge that affects all cultures and societies.
She said this growing trend has clearly demonstrated that a lot more needs to be done to curb such abuse.
Popcru’s Gauteng provincial chairperson, Vusi Tshabalala, condemned the killing of women and children in the country, saying that perpetrators are killing and robbing the nation’s future leaders.
National gender coordinator Gretta Govender said Popcru does not condone violence or social ills within communities.
Survivor Frieda Ellemdeen shared her moving story about how she was abused by her husband of many years.
Ellemdeen advised young women to better themselves through education and not rely on boyfriends.
Chairperson of the Gender Commission, Lulama Nare, pointed out their services to the audience.
“As a commission we investigate cases, reopen cases and we write to the NPA to deny bail for certain people they think they don’t deserve bail.
“Gender violence is the harming of women because they apparently don’t do what they are expected to do in a culture in which male voices dominate. When males can’t control women, they abuse them.”
The community was advised to phone 0800 428 428 or *120*7867# when coming across abuse.
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