Kempton Park and Tembisa SAPS join forces for GBV awareness walk

The Kempton Park SAPS and the Vuka Kasie Community Development Project partnered for a GBV awareness walk on October 15.

The walk started at the Kempton Park SAPS and ended at the Tembisa SAPS, where a memorandum was handed over.

TB intro: Vosloorus’ Vuka Kasie Community Development Project initiated a GBVF walk from the Kempton Park SAPS to the Tembisa SAPS to raise awareness about GBVF and hand over the memorandum to the Tembisa SAPS on October 15.

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The walk came about because, of the 39 stations in the Ekurhuleni district, Thembisa reported the highest number of GBV cases, with Vosloorus second on the list.

The initiative aimed to strengthen collaboration between communities and the police, while raising awareness about the national GBV crisis.

The partnership between the community and the SAPS is vital because the police play a key role in handling GBV cases and ensuring justice for victims.

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Vuka Kasie Community Development Project chairperson Wiseman Langa said the walk was about uniting communities and encouraging people to take a stand against abuse.

“The message we wanted to send was simple: For communities to unite against crime and GBV, in particular. People must report or seek help when red flags emerge. There should be no place for GBV in our communities,” said Langa.

“GBV has become a pandemic that even professionals are involved in. It will take ordinary people like me and you to start or support movements that fight this scourge. Too many lives have been lost to femicide and family-related violence. It must stop.”

Several organisations joined the walk, including the Ga Rona Community Development Centre, Child Welfare Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni Tourism and Heritage, People Opposing Women Abuse, Gauteng Community Safety and others.

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The Kempton Park SAPS, the EMPD and the Tembisa SAPS escorted the participants to ensure the safety of walkers, pedestrians and motorists.

Daphney Khooho, a social auxiliary worker from the Ga Rona Community Development Centre, said their organisation joined the initiative to show solidarity with others working to end GBV.

“We wanted to raise awareness about the scourge of GBVF in Thembisa and Kempton Park. Thembisa is one of the hotspots, and as an organisation, we work tirelessly to prevent and respond to GBV cases. It was also important for us to support colleagues with the same vision,” Khooho said.

Wendy Kgomo from Ga Rona added that the event encouraged community members to report all acts of GBV and learn more about the available support services.

Due to the EMPD safety regulations, only five people could walk at a time, accompanied by three escort vehicles.
Participants took turns walking in compliance with the rules, and once they had reached the Thembisa area, more members joined the walk to the police station.

Kempton Park SAPS station commander Colonel Manewa said the station joined the walk to support the areas most affected by GBV.

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“We joined this awareness campaign to show support to the top two GBV stations, Thembisa and Vosloorus. We hope such initiatives continue to inspire hope and motivate people who feel helpless. Together, we must find ways to reduce GBV cases,” said Manewa.

Vispol Commander Colonel Percy Selematsela welcomed participants’ arrival at the Tembisa SAPS and accepted the memorandum on behalf of the station.

“On behalf of the Tembisa SAPS, we appreciate your commitment to mobilising communities with a common goal: to fight GBV. As your partners, we are committed to supporting this cause,” said Selematsela.

Selematsela and Langa signed the pledge, symbolising the Tembisa SAPS’ acceptance of the memorandum and the partnership between the two entities.

The initiative seeks to create national awareness around GBV and encourage all South Africans to take action in their communities.
Slindile Nokuvela Dladla, a social worker from Child Welfare Kempton Park, said their organisation joined the walk to advocate for change and highlight that children are also affected by GBV.

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“We believe GBV is a major social issue with a negative impact on all genders. This walk aimed to raise public awareness, promote unity and challenge harmful norms. Many people forget that children are also victims of violence; our presence was to advocate for them,” Dladla said.

As part of the ongoing campaign, on October 16, members of the Vosloorus Vuka Kasie Community Development Project planted a tree at Wheels of Change as a symbol of peace, encouraging partners in conflict to seek calm and resolve issues peacefully.

Gauteng Traffic Warden Josepha Fenyane from Gauteng Community Safety said it was vital to protect vulnerable groups and hold perpetrators accountable.

“It’s our duty as a nation to protect women, children and members of the LGBTQ+ community from GBV. As men, we must refrain from abuse and help bring an end to this cycle of trauma and suffering,” Fenyane said.