Locals take a walk for GBV and femicide awareness

Women’s organisations in South Africa are a necessity and Abafaziphambili is an organisation run by women for women.

Abafaziphambile, on August 26, hosted a 5km walk aimed at crime prevention awareness against GBV and femicide.

AbafaziPhambili held the walk in partnership with Norkem Park SAPS, the Birchleigh North Clinic and the Johannesburg Tembisa Taxi Association.

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The walk started at 07:00 at Norkem Park Police Station and concluded at 08:00 at the same police station.

Community members and their friends, some from as far as Venda, supported the walk.

Young boys and girls also joined the walk to support Abafaziphambili.

The Kempton Express caught up with Abafaziphambili founder and director, Sis’ Mantoa Selepe.

“The walk was a success. We had set a target of 100 people and surpassed it.

“This was our first awareness walk as Abafaziphambili and it is something we plan on doing every year,” she said.
AbafaziPhambili is an NPO founded by Selepe.

Their vision is advocating for gender equality on the ground for underprivileged women, usually only remembered during South African elections.

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The organisation aims to drive socio-economic change and focuses its mission on economic empowerment, social orientation, and political education.

The organisation offers emotional support to women in distress, oppressed by the patriarchal system and experiencing personal hardships.

Abafaziphambili holds monthly events themed ‘Conversations with Sis’ Mantoa’, providing a space for the women to raise their issues and the matters concerning their lives within a system of inequalities.

Members of AbafaziPhambili believe this different approach to reaching out will assist them in achieving gender equality and consequently lessen societal evils.

Selepe added many times women are stranded with no income after they leave toxic relationships.

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“This prompted us to help women start their own business so they will become financially independent.”
One of those women is Rebecca Manganya.

“I spoke to Sis Mantoa about my business ambition and she discussed it with the Abafaziphambili board.

“The board then supported my dream and funded my business,” she said.

Rebecca added her business was growing and she was grateful to Abafaziphambili for helping her.

Selepe said the organisation requires sponsors for the young boys they are nurturing.

“We need someone who will sponsor them with a new soccer kit. We are removing them from the streets so that they don’t get sucked into negative things and grow up to be abusers,” she said.

For a soccer kit donation, contact Selepe on 061 429 4353 or email admin@abafaziphambili.org.za