Mams children demand protection from police

Children and young adults from ward 67 in Mamelodi West took to the streets to raise awareness against substance abuse, sexual assault and gender-based violence on Monday morning.

The march was organised by Adelade Thanjekwayo from the Anonymous Hope organisation. They gathered at the Jafta Mahlangu secondary school to march to the Mamelodi West police station, holding placards demanding protection from law enforcement.

“The aim of the awareness campaign was towards understanding our rights and how the police can protect us as children of Mamelodi,” said Thanjekwayo.

Thanjekwayo said she organised the awareness campaign because she was once a victim of sexual harassment and that the police failed to help her.

Most of the children who took part in the awareness campaign were still at primary level and “already had conversations of abuse and were demanding to know where to get help and how the police can protect them”.

“This march is all about child protection, different kinds of abuse, drug and substance abuse and gender-based violence,” said Thanjekwayo.

She added she has seen how brothers and sisters turn into drug addicts, which eventually hurts their families and society. She has also seen how families break up because of domestic violence and substance abuse.

The acting station commander at the Mamelodi police, Colonel M S Makgopa, received the memorandum on behalf of the station.

He said they will go through the memorandum and promised to respond within a week.

He told the group that the police station was willing to work with them through the police social prevention unit.

Police spokesperson Captain Johannes Maheso, who was also present, said the police were here to protect them.

He further said the police also had to deal with people coming to the station to open a case but later withdrawing the case.

Maheso said people can get help before they open a case by going to social workers, priests, teachers, ward councillors, churches and community members, etc. depending on the issue.

“Some issues can be resolved without involving the police,” he said.

“We are here to serve and protect the public, but can’t use state resources on cases that people later withdraw.”

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