Health MEC joins Polokwane walk against GBVF
Real strength is not shown through violence, says Limpopo Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego, who joined a walk against GBVF in Polokwane.
POLOKWANE – A group of men and women dressed in black took a two-kilometre walk from SABC Park to Jack Botes Hall on Monday, July 27, in a united stand against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
The walk, led by Limpopo Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego, formed part of the Department of Health’s men’s walk and dialogue against GBVF, bringing together government departments, Saps, Correctional Services, community leaders, faith-based organisations and Polokwane residents to encourage men to take an active role in ending violence against women and children.
GBVF, a crime and public health crisis
Mashego described GBVF as both a crime and a public health crisis, and said healthcare workers witness its devastating effects daily.
She added that there were records of 1 873 sexual offence cases and 3 691 domestic violence incidents during the first six months of 2025, with 39 GBVF-related murders reported during the same period.
“These are not just statistics. Behind every number is a family whose life has been changed forever,” she said.
Mashego said, “Real strength is not shown through violence. A real man protects life, respects women and leads by example.”
She further added that men struggling with anger, stress, substance abuse or other mental health challenges should seek professional help before their problems escalate into violence.
She emphasised that survivors of sexual assault should seek medical attention within 72 hours to access post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and other essential healthcare services.
Saps Brigadier Isaac Mhlongo, responsible for crime prevention, said, “What kind of man needs violence to prove he is a man? A real man never does. Real men don’t hide behind violence.”
Mhlongo added that daily crime reports continue to reflect high numbers of GBVF-related offences, with every case leaving families and communities traumatised.
Dialogue and questions
The event ended with men and women engaging in a dialogue about the social issues they encounter on a daily basis, and they also posed questions to the esteemed speakers.
