To raise awareness and mobilise the community against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Ilitha Labantu and Amadoda Qotho organisation (a non-profit organisation that fights against GBVF) hosted a #Uthuleleni Anti-GBVF motorcade in Makhaza on Friday 23 May.
The multi-sector initiative focused on prevention, advocacy and community mobilisation in response to the ongoing sccourge of GBVF. The event was attended by volunteers from the two organisations and some community members.
The motorcade started at Makhaza and drove through Jeff Masemola Road to the SST area in Town Two and went back to Makahaza again, with volunteers distributing pamphlets denouncing GBVF.
Ilitha Labantu’s spokesperson Siyabulela Monakali described the campaign as the multi-sector designed to tackle GBVF in line with the organisation’s values.
Ilitha Labantu is a non-profit organisation that focuses on addressing violence against women and children.
Monakali said there was a surge in domestic violence in the community. “The motorcade took place in direct response to the alarming rise in rape and sexual exploitation of women and children in Makhaza. It aimed to amplify survivor voices, promote access to justice and strengthen community-led responses,” he stated, adding that they cannot claim to be making real progress while women and children continue to live in fear.
SST resident Unathi Memani described the initiative as informative. She said she wished that there could be more organisations following on Ilitha Labantu’s footsteps.
“The crime rate is high here. We need organisations like Ilitha Labantu who can come to the people and encourage the community to speak out. Sometimes we are scared to report it to the officers because we don’t trust them. The officers arrest the suspect today and on the following day you see the suspect on the street again without the victim being informed. So, when there is an organisation like Ilitha Labantu which can assist and support us is much better,” said Memani.
