Following an awareness march against gender-based violence (GBV) that was held on Saturday, November 26 from the Roodepoort City Hall to Matholesville, a follow-up meeting was held at Matholesville Community Hall to further discuss GBV in crisis-affected communities.
With 16 Days of Activism in full swing, several organisations from Roodepoort, Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) held a peaceful march to highlight crimes against women and children as well as the ongoing crime in the area.
On Tuesday, November 29 Roodepoort Police Station’s Communication Officer Captain Juanita Yorke together with Sergeant Shumikazi Mbuli from the Social Crime Prevention Unit addressed residents at the Matholesville Community Hall.
Mbuli explained to the attendees who were mainly local women all the factors that lead to GBV and made them aware of the GBV office that is available at the station for both men and women.
Women employed by Community Work Programme (CWP) also attended the meeting as well as a representative from Khulisa Social Solutions.
Mantwa Selloana from the National Children and Violence Trust (NCVT) encouraged the women to report crime and not keep quiet about it.
At the end of the session attendees were given the opportunity to respond on issues on the agenda and ask questions.
Concerns involving some illegal activities in Matholesville, mainly illegal mining related issues combined with corruption from Roodepoort Police members, were also raised in the meeting before it adjourned.
Elsi Mavundza from Khulisa Social Solutions told the Record that they believe in impacting lives through equipping and educating the people in a community.
Khulisa Social Solutions is a Non-Profit Organisation that is changing lives and bringing access to opportunity for communities around South Africa.