Police blessed during church GBV awareness campaign

Mamelodi police addressed gender-based violence (GBV) and domestic violence in general at the local St. Raphael catholic church last Sunday.

The church had invited police together with Mamelodi stakeholders, Second Chance rehabilitation centre, two ex-offenders and Baviaanspoort prison officials to discuss these issues.

The church also wanted to bless police at the event.

According to spokesperson Sergeant Daphney Maila, police spoke to the congregation about the different forms of GBV and how to go about reporting perpetrators to police.

Maila said the talk was also part of the police’s public relations effort.

The church was very supportive and promised to work with police.

Maila said police spoke to the community about GBV, contact crimes and malicious damage to property, and identified treatment institutions for substance abusers.

“Congregation was also told that police a growing number of complainants that approached police to withdraw GBV cases as a result of different dynamics and perspectives,” she said.

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

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

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

Judge president of the Mpumalanga high court, Segopotje Sheila Mphahlele said the awareness campaign was “very important in our different society”.

She said people should go back to their roots to see how they could work on their behavioural shortcomings.

“Parents should raise their children in a good manner and be satisfied that they could to be good example in the society.”

Mphahlele also said couples that were not getting along but opted to remain together for the sake of their children but then fight in front of them daily cause their children trauma, as well as teach them bad habits.

She expressed appreciation for the multidisciplinary team’s presence, saying the collaborative outreach meant a lot to the public.

Stakeholders were invited to pray for the team’s safety, since it was on the frontlines of fighting crime.

“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,” she added.

The ex-offenders shared the same sentiment.

Maila said the duo had humbled itself to earn the community’s forgiveness and acceptance without being labelled or judged on the streets.

More than 60 pamphlets on GBV as well as domestic violence and substance abuse were distributed.

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