Law enforcement agencies in campaign to fight GBV
More than 20 members of various law enforcement agencies visited Saulsville to raise awareness of GBV.
Women and child abuse are real – and all of us must work together to fight them.
This was the message behind an awareness meeting held at the African Methodist Episcopal church, Saulsville, west of Pretoria, on Sunday.
The meeting, attended by community members, was led by Sunnyside station commander Brigadier Matshidiso Kgoadi.
Also present was the head of the Atteridgeville correctional centre advocate Patricia Masinga in addition to members of the police, correctional services, the Tshwane metro police and community patrollers.
Addressing the gathering, Kgoadi told the residents that gender-based violence (GBV) was not fiction – but real.
She said the phenomenon was deeply rooted in gender inequality and a human rights violation culture within South African society.
While men also experience GBV, mostly women and children bore the brunt of it, she said.
She urged residents to work together with the police in fighting GBV.
The event was held five days before the global 16 Days of Activism against GBV.
“16 Days of Activism is from November 25 to December 10 but for us in the police, it is for the whole year. For us, it is 365 days a year and not only 16.”
Addressing the gathering, Reverend Gaborone Lesito said that his church was taking GBV seriously.
“We have put together a task team to handle such issues,” he said.
“Our church has decided to stop simply talking about GBV, but to be serious in the implementation of programmes against it in the communities we live in.”
He said it was a blessing that law enforcement agencies showed an interest in working with them.
Local CPF member Itumeleng Matabane said he was happy to be part of the campaign.
“I now understand it better and know how to properly fight against it,” he said.
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