ANCYL marches against violence

The walk was attended by hundreds of people, among them members of Parliament in the National Assembly and the national convener of the ANC Women's League Young Women's Desk (ANCWL YWD).

October 9, 2019

Kelebogile Chokoe 2 minutes read

The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) had a candlelight walk against the abuse of women, children and drugs on October 4, under the theme ‘End Abuse Now’.

The walk started at the ANC Parliamentary Constituency Office (PCO) in Lesedi Shopping Centre in Vosloorus and moved to the Vosloorus Police Station.

The walk was attended by hundreds of people, among them members of Parliament in the National Assembly and the national convener of the ANC Women’s League Young Women’s Desk (ANCWL YWD).

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Zandile Tshabalala, who attended the march, said, “I am in support of this march because as women we get killed, we are not free and we are not safe. There is no place where a woman goes and feels safe.

“We are raped and killed in churches, post offices, schools or work. That needs to stop now.”

Precious Banda, the ANCWL YWD national convener, said, “We are here to join the ANCYL in marching against gender-based violence to the police station, and to also communicate the conditions in which women are living under. We want to let the police know that we need young women to be safe in the streets. Also, the fact that it’s night doesn’t mean that women shouldn’t feel safe, so we are reclaiming the night as well.”

Tandi Mahambehlala, the national convener of the ANCYL and MP in the National Assembly, said, “Today’s programme is relevant to all genders. As people, we need to remember that united we stand and divided we fall. Men and women should unite and stand together in fighting violence against women and children. Men should stand up and say ‘not in my name’.

Collen Malatji, the regional convener of ANCYL in Ekurhuleni and MP in the National Assembly, said, “We had to have this march as we want to do away with gender-based violence and drug abuse in our communities. We are saying enough is enough with how our sisters are brutally killed and how people are affected and destroyed by drugs in our communities. We are giving the police 48 days to respond to our memorandum, and if they don’t respond we will organise a bigger march to the SAPS head offices. The reason we are giving them 48 days is for them to sit and deliberate on our issues.”