Gatsheni hosts annual GBVF awareness campaign in Steelpoort
The activities started with a fun run and walk. About 300 attendees walked from Ga-Phasha Moshate to Mapodile Stadium at Longtill.
Gatsheni Lifeway Hope Organisation held an awareness campaign on gender-based violence and
femicide (GBVF) on Human Rights Day in Steelpoort.
The activities started with a fun run and walk. About 300 attendees walked from Ga-Phasha Moshate to Mapodile Stadium at Longtill.
Participants included Kgoshigadi Hunadi Phasha, Burgersfort SAPS station commander, Brigadier Augustine Mboyi, local pastors, social workers and various sponsors.
Arriving at the stadium, the participants enjoyed aerobics, extramural activities and speeches on how to curb violence in communities.
Ellah Ndlovu represented Gatsheni. She highlighted that there was an increase of GBVF cases in the country.
She encouraged women to speak up and speak out about all forms of abuse, noting that if men fail them, God will always be there to lift them up.
Ndlovu also appealed to the abusers to desist from hurting their loved ones, noting that their behaviour can have a negative impact on the future generation.
“We had men participating in our events. I am optimistic that the abusers will refrain from their bad deeds,” she added. Mboyi urged the community to work closer with the SAPS in combating GBVF.
“Report cases of GBVF to the police stations and also engage with social workers.”
The participants in the fun walk were handed gifts and medals for their efforts. Gatsheni’s management thanked local organisations and sponsors who made the event a success.
Some of the event sponsors included Sylvania Metals, Pigeon Trading, Burgersfort Steers, Aloe Beauty Studios, Happy Pule, Zizwe, Johnson Crane, Pick ‘N Pay Steelpoort, CMR Burgersfort, Panarottis, Macville Foundation, PKM Accountants, Phuthi Moroka Mining and All Health Pharmacy Tukakgomo.
Representing the sponsors, Mosibudi Mahlo from Sylvania Metals said GBVF is a global pandemic affecting many people worldwide.
“As Sylvania, we support community initiatives that aims to address social ills in the communities in which we operate in. We care about our community members as they are also our employees..”
She said Sylvania continues to act against GBVF by streamlining the concept in its policies and procedures offering Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) where victims can be referred for counseling and other services, and also by setting aside funds to assist in programs facilitated by NGOs like Gatsheni.
Gatsheni was founded in February 2021 by Themba and Ellah Ndlovu, with the objective of bringing hope to the local communities.
