MEC joins walk against gender-based violence
"It was heart-warming to see young and old walking together just to say, enough is enough."
The MEC of community safety, security and liaison, Gabisile Shabalala, accepted the Lowveld Walkers’ challenge and joined them on Saturday on their second annual walk against genderbased-violence (GBV).
Mohita Latchminarain, member of portfolio committee in the premier’s office, also joined them.
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The walkers started at Tekwane South and finished at the Emkhatsini Sasol garage. According to Joseph Mashaba, founder of Lowveld Walkers, the 2020 GVB event was the walk of the year. “This is the most walkers we had at an event since we started walking after Covid-19.
It was heart-warming to see young and old walking together just to say, enough is enough. We do not want to see any of our children, women or men become victims of GBV. We are well aware that in most cases it is women that are victims of GBV, although there are some men that are facing it, too. Enough people have died and we do not want to see more getting killed. When we organised the walk, we wanted to stand together because we can do more,” he said.
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Mashaba said he still cannot believe how much the team has grown. “When the MEC accepted the challenge, we were so happy and she did not come alone. Some people from her department joined us as well. This walk will always be a memorable event for me, it showed me that indeed God has plans for us,” he said. On November 28, the walkers will host their final event of the year.
“It will be a walk to create awareness of World Aids Day. We will start walking from i’Langa Mall (restaurant parking) to the Nelspruit Airfield and back. There is no joining fee, no paperwork, just bring your facemask, sanitiser, water and wear comfortable sneakers.” The walk will start at 05:30.
