Anger, fear and a desire for change brought community members onto the streets of Fourways on October 10 as residents joined a 5km march against gender-based violence (GBV).

Organised by Fourways residents Mia Abrahamson and Ciara Theobald, the march started at Kingfisher Dog Park, continued along Kingfisher Drive and onto Witkoppen Road and Winnie Mandela Drive, before returning to the park.

Read more: Community to march for answers after Diepsloot girl’s tragic death

Dressed in black with touches of purple, participants came together to show solidarity with survivors of abuse and call for greater action to protect women.

For Abrahamson, the march was about doing more than expressing outrage online. The anger and helplessness she and Theobald felt following the Kempton Park murders pushed them to find a way to bring people together.

“We wanted to do something. We wanted to bring some action. We didn’t want to just share a poster on social media,” they said.

The pair had only two to three weeks to organise the event, a process Abrahamson admitted left her anxious about whether people would show up.

“I was going back and forth in my mind. I was like, are two people going to show up, or five people going to show up?”

Seeing community members turn out for the march left her feeling proud, although she said even a single person joining her would have made the effort worthwhile.

The march also attracted political representatives, including Helen Zille, who attended to show solidarity after the organisers received permission from their ward councillor to use the park and roads.

But beyond the march itself, Abrahamson’s concerns were rooted in what she described as the fear women continue to experience in their daily lives.

She also spoke about a man allegedly harassing women around Witkoppen Road and Main Road in Paulshof, saying she had personally felt intimidated by him.

“I said about three weeks ago to my boyfriend that I’m scared of him, I’m intimidated by him. I think what he does is disgusting.”

Also read: ‘Enough,’ GBV survivor shares why she chose to leave

For Abrahamson, the situation raises questions about the responsibility of authorities to protect women and hold perpetrators accountable.

“Why do we have to take accountability for the actions of the perpetrators against us? Why can you not fight for us? Why do we have to do this ourselves? When will enough be enough? Because at this point, the blood is on your hands.”

Her message also extended to women who may be experiencing abuse behind closed doors.

Drawing from her own experience of being in an abusive relationship, Abrahamson acknowledged how difficult it can be for someone to recognise their situation and find a way out.

“I believe you. I see you. I myself was in an abusive relationship. I know how warped reality can become. I know how alone it can feel.”

She urged survivors not to blame themselves or believe they have to face their circumstances alone.

“You’re not alone, you are not crazy. You’re not too much, you’re not not enough. And you have the strength to get up and leave.”

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