MEC Faith Mazibuko unveils Gauteng’s strategy against GBV in Dobsonville
Mazibuko reassured residents that her department would be taking a firmer stance on GBV cases going forward.
“Asisisancengi siyazenzela!(We will no longer beg, we will do it ourselves!) ” was the message from Gauteng’s MEC for Community Safety Faith Mazibuko that was met with thunderous applause from the crowd of men and women who gathered at the Dorothy Nyembe Park on Wednesday.
Mazibuko was speaking at Gauteng’s Provincial launch of 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children in Dobsonville, an area marked as a GBV hotspot. “We now have people who a specifically placed with Gauteng’s various communities educate and help with GBV issues.
“These people will be on the ground visible within communities,” she said of the new GBV brigades, who were unveiled along with the Victim Empowerment unit which, she explained, would be placed within various police stations around the province to help victims of Gender-Based Violence.
“Each and every (Police) station will have what we call a Victim Empowerment Center. If you are a victim or would like to report a GBV case, you go to the Police station and ask for the Victim Empowerment Unit, If you report your case but the police are not helping, you speak to the Victim Empowerment Unit, if you’re not getting help from them too contact the GBV command center, “ Mazibuko commanded.
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GBV member Zelda Mohapi said the Brigades were already on duty and the initial feedback has been positive from the community.
“We have been working around Soweto, teaching people in the community about GBV and the different forms of it, we have educational pamphlets, go door to door and teach about domestic violence and a bid to try and curb the rising GBV cases. we’ve been well received and look forward to stepping up our efforts,” she said.
The launch was attended by various municipal senior figures including Ekurhuleni Mayor, Mzwandile Masina, Westrand MMC of Public Safety, Heather Butler, and Midvaal Mayor, Bongani Balyi amongst others. The MMC also announced Gauteng 5 step plan to combat GBV within Gauteng.
Locals though were still not very impressed, Katlego Mothupi from Dobsonville who had attended the event said she felt it was simply for show. Mazibuko reassured residents that her department would be taking a firmer stance on GBV cases going forward.
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