Parliamentary Constituency Office marches to KaNyamazane Police Station to address GBV
A memorandum from the community demanding stronger police action against GBV was handed over to the KaNyamazane station commander.
On a mission to raise their grievances, some community members marched to KaNyamazane Police Station on Tuesday, December 11, to address gender-based violence and human trafficking.
To mark the conclusion of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the Parliamentary Constituency Office (PCO) handed over a memorandum requesting the police to strengthen their efforts to identify and prevent GBV.
The PCO’s manager and event organiser, Mdu Mona, said: “The memorandum was successfully delivered and well received by the station commander.”
In the memorandum, the PCO said the increasing rates of violence against women in the community are alarming.
“Reports of abuse, assault, and even femicide have become all too common. The safety and dignity of women and girls are being jeopardised and we demand stronger and more immediate actions from the police to address this crisis. We are deeply troubled by the rise in human trafficking, with vulnerable individuals, particularly young women and children, falling prey to this criminal trade. This is a direct violation of basic human rights, and it is imperative that resources be allocated to combat this menace,” they said.
The community came in numbers, holding placards with messages such as ‘Break the silence before it’s too late’ and ‘Stop violence against women and children’. They also called attention to the cuts in the police force’s budget.
“It has come to our attention that recent budget cuts have severely impacted the ability of the police to effectively investigate and resolve crimes in our community. We call on the relevant authorities to reconsider the budget allocations and restore sufficient funding to the police to carry out their duties and effectively. We also call upon the government to prioritise the restoration of the police budget, ensuring that the necessary resources are available to equip officers with the tools, training and support needed to combat these crimes,” stated the memorandum.
ALSO READ: Scourge of GBV cases in Mpumalanga amid the 16 Days of Activism – two men sentenced to life
The dignitaries included national member of parliament, Dina Pule, Mpumalanga legislative members of parliament, Jesta Sidell and Thulisile Khoza, and some members of the mayoral committee, Dannison Mkhatshwa and Khanyi Mhlanga.
The second session of the day included netball and soccer games, as well as a handover of soccer kits.
