Violence against women, children: Here’s the plan …

Gender-based violence has been a sad reality in the country for some time.

Just this year alone, the evidence is shocking and paints the ugly picture that our women are indeed not safe.

We have covered the topic extensively in our publications.

Here are some of our headlines and quotes:

‘More than 120 000 victims rang the national helpline for abused women and children in the first three weeks after the lockdown started’; ‘untenable levels of domestic violence have increased’; ‘I would rather die of corona than being a victim’; ‘a life-long pandemic in the country’; ‘a war being waged against women and children of the country’; ‘no fewer than 21 women and children have been murdered’; ‘Over 2 000 gender-based violence cases in first week of lockdown’ and ‘one woman is killed every three hours in South Africa’.

This is just the tip of the iceberg; need I say more?

Something needs to be done. Although government vowed to play its part, they need help …

The Herald believes there is no better opportunity than in August, since it is Women’s Month, to host an informative and educational workshop. The aim is to create awareness about the issue the country is facing.

Everybody is welcome to attend the workshop – whether you are a victim, whether you know of a victim and wish to help the person, or whether you wish to find out what to do, should you ever find yourself in that situation.

We cannot do it alone either.

The Herald calls on any organisation, individual, local government department, business, mall, shopping centre, police unit, lawyer, magistrate, doctor, abuse/ violence survivor, social worker, shelter and anyone who wants to help us put together a workshop under the #CaxtonCares banner to show victims that #Randfontein cares about them, to come on board.

We would like to hear from you.

Please email us at randfonteinherald@caxton.co.za.