Tshwane takes stand against GBV

Tshwane mayor Steven Mokgalapa has urged residents to continue to speak up against gender violence, saying the metro was a caring government.

He said the country had seen and heard enough in the news and from loved ones about how lives have been devastated by violence.

The mayor was speaking during a night vigil against the scourge outside Tshwane House yesterday.

“We meet as the city of Tshwane community to speak in one voice to say #nomore against GBV and to urge you to say ‘no more about gender violence’.”

“This is not just any vigil that will we forget the next day. It is about all of us, the people who agree that gender-based violence is a societal evil and illness. We stand here as co-partners in protecting the rights of and dignity of victims and survivors.”

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Mokgalapa said he acknowledged that society has protected male privilege.

“We have a long way to go as a country with the highest violence against women.”

He said people should not turn a blind eye and say “dilo tsa batho ba babedi hadi tsenwe” (do not interfere in others’ private affairs).

Event organiser and chairperson of multiparty women’s caucus councillor Rose Maake said GBV was a phenomenon rooted in gender equality and continued to be one of the notable human rights violations within society.

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“Our aim tonight is to forge a way forward in fighting GBV. We as the city and members of the women’s caucus we commit ourselves by fully endorsing this programme and we will be signing a pledge to say #nomore/#knowmore.” she said.

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