Specialised sport coach flips tyre to end violence

Specialised sport coach Jolene Campher called on all Pretoria residents to play their part in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

“When you hear noise, just stop and listen – do not just walk pass,” Campher said, during the tyre flip campaign against gender-based violence in Brooklyn on Thursday.

The campaign marked the last day of observing the 16 Days of Activism again GBV running from 25 November to 10 December annually.

Campher said the nation can only win the fight against a high rate of women and children abuse in the country if each and every person plays a role against the scourge.

“Women and children abuse happen every day and I think there are a lot of people out there who close their doors on it.”

She said awareness was important to encourage residents to fight against the social illness, commonly referred as a “second pandemic” after Covid-19.

The campaign, consisting of Sport Against Crime (SAC), Brooklyn police and Complete Security Intelligence (CSI) security, saw participants flipping a 85kg tyre for 2.3km in turns from the Brooklyn traffic circle to the Brooklyn police station.

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Among the participants were SAC founder Chris Batts, Brooklyn police spokesperson Captain Colette Weilbach, Oostelike Eagles u.16 rugby team players and CSI operations manager Andrew Erlank, who all encouraged locals to stand up and fight against gender-based abuse.

Batts said the campaign showed that it does not take a lot of time and money to make a difference but it needs effort and hard work.

“Flipping a tyre needs effort and hard work so as to make a difference.”

Captain Weilbach said each flip of a tyre was a symbol of turning things around and end abuse against children and the vulnerable.

She then praised community members for participating in the campaign.

“It is encouraging to see the members of the community, especially the youth, showing their support against abuse.”

Players of the Oostelike Eagles u.16 rugby team, Raynard van Loggerenberg, Imana Kwatsha and Diaan Mienie attended the drive.

Van Loggerenberg said it was an honour to participate in the event.

“I am not doing this for money but for a good cause, which is fighting against women and children abuse,” he said.

Kwatsha said he enjoyed doing something that adds value to the society.

“I won’t mind doing it again,” he said.

He encouraged locals to speak out about abuse.

“Silence contributes to the scourge of abuse.”

Mienie shared Van Loggerenberg’s sentiment.

He said participating in the campaign was a great honour.

Erlank urged residents not to keep quiet about abuse.

“Keeping quiet prolongs the problem until it becomes bigger eventually.”

He urged people to report cases of abuse to the police.

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