Mayibuye Youth marches in solidarity with GBV victims
Gender-based violence is also an issue faced by men and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
“Bopha, phoyisa bopha! (arrest, police, arrest),” were the words chanted by members of the Mayibuye Youth Movement who came out in numbers to support raising gender-based violence awareness in their community.
They stomped the streets of Mayibuye, where the march began in Mayibuye Community Hall, to Ivory Park, Kanana and Rabie Ridge sports stadium on March 25, where station commander of the Rabie Ridge Police station Col Johanna Ngoma gave props to the initiative.
“What’s disturbing about the gender-based violence cases we receive is that there is a loss of lives involved and it’s always a traumatic experience to witness such scenes as a community. We appreciate the work of the different organisations that are always on the ground working in our communities for showing an even greater effort today,” said Ngoma.
According to Bishop Michael Mtshali of the Joburg Faith-Based Organisations Aids Council, the alarming increase of domestic and sexual cases sparked the march, as reported by the Myibuye Youth Movement.
“It was in November 2021 when we had an Aids event with Mayibuye Youth Movement and other stakeholders that this initiative was started. It was a cause for concern to learn that a nine-year-old child who was living with her grandmother was taken in the middle of the night and raped in our own community,” said Mtshali.
Mtshali also said it was important to have such engagements with members of the community, especially dialogues between men on the causes and impact of GBV, femicide and sexual offences in the community.
“We also need to educate people that GBV happens not only towards women only as men also get abused and now, it also includes people who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We urge people to speak out and report GBV cases in the community for a safer environment for all,” said Mtshali.
Members of POWA alongside the Department of Social Development, Rabie Ridge Community Policing Forum, the Women and Family Care Centre, Zion Health Care Association, Bophelong- Empilweni Community Project, She is Brave Foundation, Break The Silence, Treatment Action Campaign, You Are Not Alone and the National Association of Car Wash Operators were part of the event, demanding the arrest of perpetrators.
