Community runs the streets of Pimville over GBV scourge
The run was a collaborative effort to honour and stand against GBV and all the women who have lost their lives to violence in the past weeks.
The Pimville community took to the streets, running and marching in a GBV awareness movement in Pimville, Soweto, on September 19.
Organised by Dineo Sehlabo, Peete Mahlelebe and Samkelo Ncubo, the trio approached different entities and community members to unite and come together in a proactive approach to commemorate the lives of the nine women who lost their lives in the GBV scourge that happened in Ekurhuleni.
Sehlabo opened with a prayer, followed by a moment of silence for the lives lost and the ongoing scourge of heinous acts of killing women.
ALSO READ: Soweto church groups unite in prayer against GBV and killings
“As a proud Pimville resident and a father to three daughters, I felt a personal responsibility to step up and get involved in the fight against GBV. Change starts within our own communities, and it is time for us to stand together, speak up against violence, support survivors, and promote a culture built on respect,” said Mahlelebe.
Community member Nomhle told Urban News that, as a community, they came out in numbers, wearing black to represent that they are in a period of mourning for the lives lost and mourning the humility and protection that now seem to be non-existent in communities, especially from men.
She shared that, as women, they do not feel safe in their communities to do simple things such as running or walking freely, and the act of running and walking is a representation of showing that this should be an activity that women are not afraid of doing freely.
Clayton Vilakazi said: “I am here as a male figure to support and stand in solidarity with our women. We were born leaders, and I believe that we should show our leadership in such moments. This is a national crisis, and if we start in our communities and tackle it, there might be a difference.
” We are greatly saddened by these killings because these are our sisters, mothers and daughters that are being killed like flies, and this is also a cry to our officials to take a stand and make sure that the perpetrators are arrested.”
The community participated in a 10km run and walk as they stood in solidarity with the nine lives lost to GBV.
