East learners encouraged to speak up
“The dialogue is a platform for school learners to be informed and educated about gender-based violence and support systems available for survivors/victims of gender-based violence.”
Local learners were encouraged to exercise their rights during an anti-gender-based violence dialogue organised by Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) last Friday.
The dialogue was held at Dr Monare primary school in Mamelodi West for its grade 7 learners and grade 9 learners of Vukani Mawethu secondary school.
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Other stakeholders who attendedwere the Tshwane Child Welfare, Commission for Gender Equality, LoveLife, Mamelodi police, Traditional Council, Department of Justice and GCIS officials.
“The dialogue also forms part as one of the build-up activities for the Albertina Sisulu Centenary Celebrations,” said Moferefere Moloi from GCIS.
Different stakeholders took part in the dialogue with the learners.
“Learners in the dialogue were taught about all kinds of abuse from sexual, emotional, physical, financial, human traffic, etc.”
“The dialogue is a platform for school learners to be informed and educated about gender-based violence and support systems available for survivors/victims of gender-based violence.”
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He said the reason they were hosting the event was that the late Mama Sisulu was very passionate about community services and how gender-based violence affected communities.
“We are here to listen and to empower learners with information about gender-based violence issues.
“This won’t be the first visit to school it is the beginning of the relationship with pupils.”
Moloi further added that they were planning to work together with pupils.
“Gender-based violence can be stopped as long as the victims can report it. If the victim doesn’t say anything no one will ever know that something is wrong.”
He pleaded with victims of abuse to come forward and break the silence by reporting the abuse.
He said they were working together with different NGOs to find a solution.
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Koketso Sekhu of the Commission for Gender Equality explained to the learners about different kinds of abuse. She said victims were welcome at the commission.
“Children must be always free, open and safe in the community.”
Captain Johannes Maheso of Mamelodi West police station told the learners that police fought crime on a daily basis.
“Gender-based violence is too much in Mamelodi especially rape, sexual assaults, domestic violence.”
He pleaded with learners to report any kinds of abuse to their teachers and the police and they should not be scared because the police were there to protect them 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Gloria Magena of Child Welfare Tshwane said her job as social worker was to look after the children and protect them and make sure that their rights were not violated.
She also said their door was always open to help the children.
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