The Rosebank community joined in the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children.
This was thanks to an event organised by Rosebank Police Station, Rosebank Management District (RMD) and Pick n Pay. Rosebank police spokesperson Sergeant Bongi Mdletshe welcomed attendees through prayer and then introduced customer service manager of Pick n Pay Rosebank, Khanyisile Chokoe.
Chokoe said gender-based violence (GBV) was happening every day and the purpose of the event was to encourage everyone to participate in fighting against it. “You might hear abnormal screams from your neighbour’s house and assume it’s a ‘family affair’ but you can never be sure. As a neighbour, take a step and report if something seems amiss.”
Adding to that, RMD precinct manager Lerato Khiba said, “Zimbokodo [strong women], let’s stand together and be there for one another. “Don’t see a neighbour’s child crying and not do anything.” She added that Rosebank should be a place where people felt safe and knew that they have a fellow ‘brother’ or ‘sister’ they could lean on. “We are appealing to the police to make it safe for people to come and report sexual harassment. To the men, we want to feel safe walking around wearing mini skirts when the weather is hot and not be sworn at.”
Immaculata Shelter project supervisor Mike Ntuli said the first line of prevention for victims of GBV was education. He added that harmful gender norms/gender stereotypes were often used to justify violence against women. “Victims of violence can suffer sexual and reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted infections including HIV and even death.
“Use your voice on social media to bring awareness to GBV. Using social media can help you connect to others outside your normal social circles,” Ntuli advised.
Mdletshe said it was the things we consider ‘small’ that actually constituted GBV. An example, he added, was that in many households parents slept in the same room as the children and engaged in intercourse thinking the children were asleep. However, children see this and copy what they see at home.
He also spoke about the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matter) Amendment Act which defines sexual offences and protects children and the mentally disabled against offences such as sexual exploitation, sexual grooming, exposure or display of pornography and exposure or display of genital organs among others.
Mdletshe added, “At the station we have the Victim Empowerment Section for all affected by such GBV crimes. We are constantly training our officers to be better equipped to handle such cases. The campaign will carry on until 10 December. Remember that consent matters, and don’t sit at home with the burden of abuse but come and report no matter how small you might think it is.”
Social worker at Immaculata Shelter Fiona Manoim invited those who would like to talk to come in on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Details: Pamphlets with more information on GBV can be accessed at the Rosebank Police Station on 15 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank.
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/354543/community-walk-tackles-gbv-and-drug-abuse-issues/
https://www.citizen.co.za/rosebank-killarney-gazette/260287/police-put-gender-violence-spotlight/
