Diepsloot community walks to raise awareness

Diepsloot Residents Association and Vuma Afrika Foundation embarked on a 28km walk on 16 June from Diepsloot to Riversands.

Dozens of residents from Diepsloot and Riverside View joined the walk under the theme – Creating Social Cohesion – which started on Ingonyama Street and ended at Riverside View Square.

Diepsloot Residents Association spokesperson, Joseph Mvelase said, “The aim of this walk was to raise awareness about women and children abuse. We also wanted to get young men involve in order to teach young boys good values.

“Our organisation works very closely with young boys who were involved in gangsterism.

“We brought them along and assigned them to men that will speak to them and help them understand that they are the future leaders of this nation.”

Community activist and founder of Vuma Afrika Foundation, Godfrey Sinthumule said teaching young men the importance of respecting women, respect at a young age could help the country minimise cases of gender-based violence. “Vuma Afrika Foundation is a community based non-profit organisation that works with young people in Diepsloot.

“As we commemorate Youth Day today, we decided to join hands with the residents association to say no to women and children abuse.

“We also want to help young men of Diepsloot to understand what it means to be a man.”

Sinthumule concluded, “We want them to know that real men don’t abuse women and don’t get involved in things such as drugs and substance abuse.”