United in prayer against gender-based violence

Incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) are spilling over the edges of a simmering pot on a hot plate and Limpopo is no exception where the commission of crimes against women is concerned.
Its capital played host to a prayer walk by participants who united under the Abigail Arise Women Empowerment organisation’s umbrella on Saturday. They were joined by Social Development MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale, who later took to the podium saying GBV currently experienced in many parts of the country has prompted all government leaders, faith-based organisations and the public to stand up to say enough was enough. The fact that Abigail Arise Women Empowerment has decided to organise the march was an indication that GBV was at a boiling point, the MEC stressed. Its effects on every citizen in the country could not be left unattended, she continued. “We just need to say to the Holy Spirit ‘Come down, we need you now’.”
The programme at the Polokwane Civic Gardens followed a mid-morning walk from SABC Park, with participants clad in t-shirts bearing names derived from Biblical figures and slogans on the back.

The initiative was steered by Abigail Arise Women Empowerment Chairperson Joylene Manganyi who is a senior pastor affiliated to Manna Tabernacle of Witness. Beforehand she explained that the church-based organisation had been established in 2017 and that they mainly reached out to vulnerable women and girl children through sister churches with donations.
Addressing the purpose of the event, she said they were standing up to pray against rape, kidnapping and different crimes against women and children and for the healing of the nation.
In his address delivered in Saturday’s sweltering heat Transport and Community Safety MEC Dickson Masemola, whose arrival was delayed due to his attendance of the mass burial of the deceased who passed on following an accident at Chueniespoort last Sunday, referred to the envisaged rounding up of an estimated ten educators suspected of molest of learners (See stories elsewhere). Through the power of spiritual intervention something unexpected happened as many young learners who have been molested by teachers over years have reported the educators the past few days and by the end of the weekend the suspects would have been visited by the Police and would have to go answer for their deeds going forward, he stressed.
The province had only three areas that required attention, Masemola said and listed murder that still remained an intransigent crime, sexual offences which he indicated remained a stubborn crime as well as stock theft. In the majority of crimes they were seen to be making progress, he said.
Earlier on he pledged commitment towards and made a call for a joint responsibility for all to stand up against crime and criminality, to say ‘Not in our names’ and ‘Enough is enough’. Masemola referred to gender-based violence being a problem characterising humanity, not only in South Africa but globally. “These matters must be confronted with the full might of the law it deserves.”
Before finally addressing the audience in a local vernacular and in Afrikaans respectively by mentioning a transparent government that would increasingly be ensuring improved safety and security going forward, he concluded with the exclamation “Down with gender-based violence, down! Down with crime, down! Run criminals, run!”
Last on the programme was a prayer against gender-based violence rendered by Manna Tabernacle of Witness general overseer Strike Manganyi.

Story/photos: YOLANDE NEL
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