Community unites for justice and protection of children

Alexandra community members came together in solidarity in Eastbank Park on April 19 to rally behind the #JusticeForCwecwe campaign and call for children’s protection.
This community healing and awareness event was hosted by Heavenly Relaxation Spa in partnership with Earthlight Healing and supported by Alex FM.
The event was inspired by the sobering story of a seven-year-old learner who was raped in the Eastern Cape. It also comes on the backdrop of widespread reports of sexual abuse of children, and the reality of low conviction rates in child abuse cases.

Read more: Alex Gobela’s rape case postponed to February 20

One of the organisers, the CEO of Heavenly Relaxation Spa Xoli Kubeka, said the event served as a memorial and a call to action, meant to unify all members of the community, including parents, caregivers, and activists, to stand against child abuse.

“We are here to protect our children, to give them back their voices, their joy, their safety,” she said, noting that Cwecwe represented a child who had been silenced.
Reaffirming the significance of the event, co-organiser, Earlight Healing practitioner Sunkissed Tshabalala, said it was not just an event but a movement.

“Justice for Cwecwe is about reclaiming childhood, rewriting the narrative, and raising a generation that knows they are worthy, protected and heard,” said Tshabalala.

Also read: Alex Gobelas rape victim gives testimony, objects to robust questioning by defence lawyer

Sixty-eight children were in attendance and participated in yoga, meditation, playtime, and an insightful engagement session on safety and awareness.
Kubeka said they discussed with the children what to do if a stranger kidnapped one of their friends and explained aspects of sexual abuse, such as grooming.

The children also enjoyed a play based on the folktale of Tselane. The director of the play Pule Hlatshwayo said, “Children respond well to stories because they get to use their imaginations to perceive real-life situations.”

Adding to the organisers’ call for the community, leaders, and institutions to carry on the work of educating, protecting, and advocating for children, Kubeka concluded, “We must unite to end child sexual abuse and foster environments where children can thrive in safety and love.”

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