Roodepoort police take GBVF awareness campaign to Solplaatjie
Community leaders urge residents to highlight poorly secured and unlit public spaces that create opportunities for crime.
With gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) continuing to affect communities across South Africa, Roodepoort police joined forces with local stakeholders to raise awareness and encourage residents to play an active role in the fight against the scourge.
The awareness event, held at Solplaatjie Hall on October 14, brought together representatives from the JMPD, the Department of Community Safety, the Community Policing Forum (CPF), non-profit organisations and the City of Johannesburg.
CPF chairperson Petrus Lehaiwa outlined the purpose of the gathering while the various stakeholders addressed the community, explaining their respective roles and how they could assist residents in addressing safety concerns and preventing GBVF.
A common message emerged throughout the presentations: Everyone has the right to feel safe and protected, and incidents of GBVF must be reported rather than ignored. The speakers also shared tips with the community on how to identify abused and violated persons, and how they can all create a safer community.
Region C GBVF forum chairperson Musa Mbatha also called on residents to identify and report areas that could put women and other vulnerable members of the community at risk.
These include areas with overgrown grass, broken or non-functioning streetlights and other neglected public spaces that could provide opportunities for criminal activity.
Mbatha’s call comes amid President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive on September 29, for municipalities to conduct women’s safety audits to identify high-risk areas in collaboration with provincial governments and the police.
Within 60 days, municipalities are expected to identify safety concerns such as broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes and facilities, poorly secured parks and other environmental conditions that could place women at risk.
Through the awareness campaign, residents were encouraged to work with law enforcement agencies, community structures and other stakeholders to report incidents, raise concerns about unsafe areas and help create safer neighbourhoods.
