TZN march against gender abuse

The members of the community of the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) together with GTM’s Men Forum and other stakeholders embarked on a march against killings and abuse of women and children recently.

The community of Tzaneen marching against the abuse of women and children. Photo Tintswalo Shipalana.

The march was spiked by the recent killings of children and women nationwide.

It began at the municipal offices then they proceeded to Pienaar street, Nkowankowa and Kgapane Taxi Rank and back to the municipal offices.

A small ceremony was held before the march where the crowd took a moment of silence to honour Reeva Steenkamp, Karabo Mokoena and Courtney Pieters who were all killed by males.

Kwena Maphoto representing the GTM’S Men Forum reading the memorandum, Lieutenant Colonel Tinus Erasmus from SAPS, Dikeledi Mmetle, Speaker of Council and Maripe Mangena, GTM Mayor. Photo Tintswalo Shipalana

“We are saying stop the killings and abuse of our women and children, and real man don’t abuse,” expressed Councillor Cassius Machimana, GTM’s Men Forum Chairperson.

Other stakeholders which participated on the march included, FAMSA, ANC Women’s League, CPF, ward committees and municipal workers.

The theme of the march was #Notinmyname and the men were dressed in all black in support of the march.

FAMSA representatives say no to gender based violence. Photo Tintswalo Shipalana

Kwena Maphoto handed out a memorandum to the SAPS which was accepted by Lieutenant Colonel Tinus Erasmus.

“We demand the establishment of more rape crisis centres to work with Victim Empowerment Programmes (VEP) to ensure the efficiency of VEP’s and Thuthuzela centres and improvement on rape investigations,” explained Maphoto as he read the memorandum.

The crowd led by GTM ‘s Men Forum says ‘stop killing our mothers and children’.

Dikeledi Mmetle, Speaker of Council, mention that government also need the help of spiritual leaders as they cannot curb this crisis alone.

She also added that the next meeting must be a prayer where the community and government seek for divine intervention.

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