Cops talk GBV at local church

Mamelodi police recently spoke about gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic violence at a local church.

This was after St Mary’s Catholic church invited the police to address them on the occasion of National Police Day, which is held on January 27 each year.

The church also wanted to bless the police at the event.

Police spoke to the congregation about the various forms of GBV and how to go about reporting perpetrators to the police, according to spokesperson Captain Johannes Maheso.

Maheso said the talk was also part of the police’s public relations efforts.

The church was very supportive and promised to work with the police. Some GBV cases were communicated to the police during the talk and police said they would be dealt with.

They were encouraged to report such GBV and domestic violence at the station.

“People should not be afraid to break the silence on domestic violence, sexual offences and domestic violence.”

Maheso said the crimes could be not be addressed by the station crime prevention unit unless they were reported.

“We hope and believe that this information will reach the entire community and we will see fewer crimes in the community,” said Maheso.

Vusi Mashaba, of the St Mary’s justice and peace structure, said they celebrated the annual National Police Day by inviting various law enforcement officers to the church.

“We invite them and pray for their safety since they are at the frontlines when it comes to fighting crime,” said Mashaba.

“We want to show them that we are here for them. We also pray for an end to gender-based violence, human trafficking and drugs among our youth,” he said.

More than 100 pamphlets on GBV, domestic violence and police killings were distributed during the event.

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