In the wake of the recent spate of rapes and murders of women and children in various parts of Johannesburg, a march will be held at the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown today (9 June).
A large turnout is expected as community members, the South African police, the Metro police and Voice It In Action – a non-profit organisation that aims to curb the heightened culture of violence experienced in society – collaborate in solidarity against the growing trend of brutality against women and children.
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“We will be voicing our concerns over the escalation of crime against women and children in society,” said spokesperson for Johannesburg Central Police Xoli Mbele.
“We are saying to the community that ‘silence is no longer golden’ and that people must start talking about any form of abuse that is happening in their homes.”
Following the alleged gang rape of a 22-year-old pregnant woman by 11 men at an abandoned building on 269 Lilian Ngoyi (Bree) Street in May, a candle-lit vigil was held by the Office of the MEC (Member of the Executive Council) for Community Safety at the building’s entrance on 30 May. MEC Sizakele Nkosi told the publication that a number of incidents have been recorded in recent times, adding that it’s time for ‘real men’ to come to the fore by protecting the vulnerable.
“Just between 1 April and 21 May, 65 women were killed in Gauteng and so we really need to try and deal with this issue once and for all,” said Nkosi.
“In order… to end this scourge, young men need to be educated and sensitised so that they can lead the fight against the rape and abuse of women. People who rape and kill women are men who do it in the name of [other] men.
“We need strong men… real men to come forward and say not in our name.” Metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the march is meant to highlight a serious social issue. “The march is a worthy cause in highlighting the acts of brutality experienced by women and children. We would like to see an end to it.”
Minnaar urged motorists to be cautious during the march, as traffic will be affected along various routes in the inner city.
Details: The march will travel along Lilian Ngoyi, Simmonds, Commissioner and Ntemi Piliso streets en route to the Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein, before concluding along Carr, Miriam Makeba and Rahima Moosa streets in the Johannesburg CBD.
Do you think enough is being done to end the scourge of violence against women and children? Share your thoughts by adding 079 439 5345 to your WhatsApp contact list and send us a message using #ViolenceAgianstWomenAndChildren
