Midrand police tackles GBV at the taxi rank and address commuters

Various taxi commuters welcomed the GBV, drugs and alcohol abuse campaign held by the Midrand Police and the Gauteng Department of Community Safety.

July 12, 2022

Sphiwe Masilela 1 minute read

Lulama Mfingwana (orange reflector) conducts a survey with a commuter at the Midrand taxi rank. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

In a bid to fight the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV), Midrand police addressed taxi commuters and drivers at the Midrand taxi rank about the different types of abuse on July 8.

Other issues talked about were alcohol and drug abuse, and how to report the act of abuse to the authorities.

Lulama Mfingwana and Midrand police spokesperson Constable Eliot Mabulane at the GBV awareness campaign. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

Midrand police spokesperson Constable Eliot Mabulane said, “Most people stay in abusive relationships and our talks are to encourage everybody – not just women but also men – to report cases of GBV so that we can try to suppress all the cases of GBV. So for us, it is important that we have these talks with everybody irrespective of them being victims or not.”

Lulama Mfingwana hands out pamphlets to a young commuter at the Midrand taxi rank. Photo: Sphiwe Masilela

He said stringent measures would be taken against police officials who did not help male victims.

A community member Ephraim Ndlovu said, “I am happy to see the police coming to the people and talk to us about GBV which also affects our counterparts [men]. Many people suffer in silence in their homes in an attempt to protect their marriages.”