With escalating gender-based violence and children being at the receiving end of the scourge since the beginning of lockdown, local Tammy Taylor Mrs South Africa semi-finalists collaborated with Matla A Bana to provide comfort packs to the victims.
The five West Rand Mrs South Africa hopefuls, Marika Opperman, Keke Moeca, Paula Msiza, Madelaine Snyman and Nthabiseng Mohane met at Alice Art Gallery in Ruimsig with a few extra hands on Friday, 3 July, to sort and pack the much-needed items that were handed over to the Gauteng Provincial Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit representative, Captain Veronica Banks. Marika, who organised this worthy cause, chatted about their involvement.
“I’ve been appalled by reports of gender-based violence in the news and on social media, so I decided to get my ‘sisters’ from the area and be the change that the community needs,” she said.
In view of the limited opportunities to conduct outreach projects due the lockdown restrictions, Marika said they grabbed this opportunity with both hands to support Matla A Bana’s drive.Matla A Bana usually does this drive during Child Protection Week, but the effects of Covid-19 caused a setback.
The organisation’s project manager Lizel van Eeden, who was grateful for the initiative, spoke about the need for the comfort packs. “Child abuse crimes have really escalated since the beginning of lockdown, and the need for the comfort packs has been great. These comfort packs will be donated to the children in the province who have fallen victim to rapists,” she explained.
The comfort packs consisted, among other, of brand-new underwear, a toy, writing material, toothbrush and a snack/ sweet – depending on the victim’s age. A grateful Captain Banks, who used to buy items for the comfort packs from her own pocket before Matla A Bana stepped in to assist, explained how the packs help the victims.
“After removing them from that environment, we give them the comfort pack. It’s sometimes the only thing they have to call their own, so giving them these packs makes them feel worth something,” she explained. When asked about the distribution process, Banks explained that the packs are usually given to the investigating officers working in the FCS Unit to keep in their cars.
Marika concluded by thanking all the sponsors who made the event possible – from the Women for Women Foundation to individual sponsors. To follow the journey of these passionate models, visit the Mrs South Africa Facebook page. The top 50 finalists are to be announced on 9 August.
