Women sit-in at Douglasdale Police Station

The women of Kya Sand informal settlement held a peaceful sit-in at Douglasdale Police Station.

This sit-in started on the evening of 26 July and with their babies either on their backs or in their hands, the women were on a mission to be listened to by the station. According to the Douglasdale CPF Sector 2 chairperson, Lizzy Mabena, the women were there from 6pm that evening.

Mabena explained that the relationship between the station and the community is one that is currently not at its best. “We are heartsore that we are being victimised and that we as the community are also victims of crimes,” she said.

Like the women of August 1956 who marched to the Union Buildings in protest against apartheid laws that would further incite segregation and not inclusion. The women of Kya Sands said they were tired of not feeling safe in their own community and are of the mind that the powers that be should step in and help impact change that would better the community not only for them but for the children they raise and the men who help protect them.

On 27 July, Gauteng MEC Faith Mazibuko gathered with the women who staged the vigil to hear their pleas. Several women voiced to her how they felt they could not depend on the officers of Douglasdale Police Station as more often than not seemed to come off as lax to their safety concerns.

Through their talks with Mazibuko, women alleged that many of them in the community were being raped, their cases were not being attended to as they should be and that they do not believe the station as their safety as top of their priority.

Acting station commander Colonel Andries Odendaal said he was pleased with the cooperation the women and station had as it was a peaceful demonstration. “Through the demonstration legitimate issues were raised and all the issues that can be addressed will be done so,” said Odendaal.

He added that because not all issues faced are the same, it was important for the women not to think all the issues would be addressed in the same manner.

MEC Mazibuko said women shared with her their grievances on the number of rape of both women and children along with various crimes they face daily. “Each time the women come to the station to lodge their complaints, they feel like they are not being taken seriously by the officers, ” she explained.

It is because of this behaviour that women now have lost confidence in the police and no longer report on crimes. “Even when they do report the crime, days after the report they see the perpetrator in the community.”

She added that the untrust within the community against the police is a critical challenge that should be addressed. Mazibuko said they will now place a special team in place to deal with following up on the issues raised by the women. “As part of Operation okae molao, I do believe that the provincial authorities will identify a specific task team to highlight issues faced in the community.”

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