Temba police and various organisation hold GBV campaign

Temba police with the Department of Community Safety and various organisations embarked on a door-to-door campaign in Sekampaneng and Tambo village to sensitise communities about the issue of gender-based violence (GBV) last Friday.

Sergeant Herman Moremi said the reason for the door-to-door calls was to reach all genders, especially men who are mostly the contributors of GBV.

“Men usually do not attend community meetings regarding GBV and that is why we opted for the door to door campaign.”

Moremi said more than five hundred pamphlets were distributed to most of their targeted groups.

He said the station has experienced an increase in the number of GBV-related cases in areas of Sekampaneng, Tambo and Mashimong section that are being reported.

“Some of the victims end up having serious injuries and it is difficult for officers to police these kinds of incidents because they happen indoors. It is also difficult for the police to reduce these incidents and that is why we thought of doing this awareness campaign.”

Moremi urged perpetrators of domestic violence, be it, men or women, to seek help and for victims not to withdraw cases.

“As police, we would like to advise perpetrators to seek help before they turn into monsters who abuse their women and children. We want to urge men as well to seek help because we have cases of men who are also being abused by their wives. We also want to urge victims not to withdraw cases of GBV because the abuse might lead to you losing your life.

“Everyone can visit the police station to report such cases privately because we have an office that deals with these cases only. There is a social worker and a police officer assigned in that office to deal with these cases.”

An activist from Man as Safety Promoters (Maspo) Abel Masemola said it was time for man to take a stand against GBV.

“It is time that we take a stand and stop killing women because we need them. It is everyone right to live, I think it also time for us as human beings to go back to practicing ubuntu.”

Masemola encouraged women to start speaking up and to break the silence against GBV.

“Let them speak up, we are here to listen to them. We will stand for them and fight on their behalf.”

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