For most of the past week, major roads between Randfontein and Krugersdorp were closed as community members tried to drive out illegal miners or zama-zamas.
The voices of community members, including people in our area, have been getting louder over the increasing number of crimes the zama-zamas commit and the police’s failure to stop them. Community tension has been simmering for years, but the alleged gang rape of eight women during a music video shoot near Krugersdorp on 28 July brought them to boiling point.
However, on Tuesday, members of the Methodist Church in Merafong held a peaceful and orderly march for more protection against gender-based violence (GBV), not only from violent criminals but also from their spouses.
This was the first march in our area, asking the police for more help, since the incident near Krugersdorp. The picketers marched from the church in Kaolin Street to the Carletonville police station. There, they not only handed over a memorandum but also prayed for the police.
The church members asked the law enforcers for additional patrols in GBV hotspots. They called for all public servants dealing with GBV victims to be trained, to sensitise them and better equip them to deal with these cases compassionately.
The protesters petitioned for condemnation of and an end to the police and court officials’ victimisation of rape and other assault survivors.
Among other requests, they asked for the facilities for traumatised victims to be established or refurbished. They wanted finance for counselling and medical care and more places of safety for women and children.
They also asked for the prosecution of GBV cases to be prioritised and deterrent sentences handed down.
Additional requests included the courts being properly staffed to deal with such cases or dedicated courts to be established. The church members asked the police to be more open with their communication on GBV cases.
The church also asked that the various spheres of government are publicly pressed to address inadequate funding.
“We do not expect our police officers to accomplish everything by themselves. We say, call on us – call on the churches, the social associations in communities, call on youth clubs and bar owners and taxi associations to stand with and support the SAPS in their struggle to combat GBV. And we say call on the local, provincial and national government to provide the needed support for the war against GBV.”
