Alexandra youth gather to tackle GBV’s hold on the community
Amid alarming GBV statistics, young people in Alexandra gathered at an awareness event to tackle abuse and empower survivors, under the theme ‘breaking the silence, building resilience.
As Alexandra residents grapple with the concerning rate of sexual offence and rape cases underscored by the latest crime stats, Building Reconciliation Together in collaboration with Lesedi Youth Batho Foundation hosted a gender-based violence awareness event at the 3 Square Sports Centre in Alexandra on June 27.
Scores of young people gathered to dissect the topic of GBV under the theme Breaking the silence, building resilience. The event coordinator, Ethan Madula, said the event will play a critical role in addressing the ailing issues of GBV in the community.
Read more: Alexandra men confront emotional roots of GBV
“It will help the children who are seeking help on GBV-related matters. We are also reaching out to men to come to the Alexandra Police Station to report cases of GBV. We’re urging them not to be scared.”
He added that the event also served to give a platform to survivors of GBV to break the silence and build resilience. This was echoed by one of the keynote speakers, Mrs South Africa Semi-Finalist Thandiwe Melato. She explained that GBV cases are often shrouded in a cloud of secrecy, further urging attendees to speak up.
She shared a personal story about her close friend who lost her life because of GBV. She noted that her friend held on and endured the abuse until she could no longer stand it.
“She decided to leave her marriage. The husband didn’t do anything at the time. A month later, when she was at her mother’s, the husband came under the pretence that he was fetching something, and when he arrived, he took out his service pistol and shot her three times in front of her sister,” she recalled, adding that he was arrested and later released.
The recent crime stats reveal that Alexandra is one of the top 30 stations with the highest number of reported cases of sexual offence cases and rape. Melato emphasised when it comes rape, even children are not spared.
“There are a lot of rape cases against children, and children do not know how to behave, the reason being, the schools do not enforce this education [about education]. They need to teach children what violence means, and what assault means.”
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