Ga-Nala region march for No Violence against Women and Children
The 16 Days of Activism campaign focused on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women, children, and society.
Kriel Police in conjuction with Emalahleni Local Municipality, Social Development, Department of Justice, Department of Water and Sanitation, Kriel Health Occupation, Glencore and Seriti Mining conducted an awareness campaign in Thubelihle from the entrance marching to the stadium for the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children from Thubelihle Entrance Hall to Thubelihle Stadium.
The dress code was red and black or black and white to symbolise unity and activism against women and girls.
Community members as well as relevant stakeholders came out in numbers to support the event. MMC from the Department of Community Services, Baphelile Hessie Maseko at Emalahleni Local Municipality attended the event hosted by Kriel Police partnering with Glencore Mine. She emphasised the importance of the event because it will spread information on how women and children can be protected from Gender-Based Violence (GBV). “We would like to encourage men to love and support the women and children in their lives,” she said.
Mrs Maseko further went on to acknowledge the purpose of the campaign was to launch the 16 Days Awareness against mother and child abuse.
Clr Sipho Maseko from ward 25 welcomed residents as well as all stakeholders that attended the campaign.
Brigadier Leonard Hlathi who is the new district police deputy commissioner in Nkangala outlined that the term GBV is when gender is the basis of violence against a person.
Brig Hlathi further implied that normally masculinity plays a pivotal role in the perpetration of violence. “I am worried in my heart with the turnout to such an important event. GBV is a pandemic that is continuous in our communities, but when I see the few people who attended this campaign, it is disappointing, because maybe as we gathered here today, no one among us is a perpetrator or maybe no one has been arrested or convicted for that crime. The actual perpetrators of this crime are wandering in the streets and not present to such a life-changing campaign,” Brig Hlathi said.
Brig Hlathi said the biggest challenge encountered by law enforcement is the fact that the victims often withdraw cases against the perpetrators.
In some cases, it is usually both parents who commit crimes of GBV against their children.
He also emphasised that although there are cases of GBV reported against males, there is a subsequent increase among women and children, however, this does not grant women to abuse men.
“I would encourage us to love one another and possess a change of mind towards GBV. It should not only be for 16 Days of Activism, but we should make it a lifestyle to fight against the violence against men, women, and children. It is a gospel that we must preach. Let us build one another and educate those around us about all forms of violence,” the brigadier confessed.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign focused on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women, children, and society. The march took place on Friday, December 2.
“The aim was to focus on negative impact that violence and abuse has on women and children in our community,” Constable Angel Makubu and Kriel Police Spokesperson.
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