In an effort to raise awareness of gender-based violence against women and children Lingelethu-West police, together with Lingelethu-West Community Policing Forum (CPF), Men For Change and Lingelethu-West Women’s Network, held a special prayer service at their station, and later moved on to picket at the Spine and Makabeni Road intersection on Friday 21 November.
The service formed part of the national shutdown on GBV campaign organised by Women For Change, a non-profit organisation that advocates for the constitutional rights of women and children in the country. Lingelethu-West police spokesperson Sgt Xoliswa Nyalambisa described GBV as thorn in the community’s flesh and that it is high time the community stood up and fought it.
“We felt we couldn’t keep quiet anymore,” she said, “and decided to mobilise other community stakeholders to organise this event. This is part of the national GBV shutdown campaign.” Nyalambisa added that GBV is among the principal categories of cases reported at the station. Lingelethu-West CPF’s Lunga Guza described GBV as a pandemic. He said at least 20 cases are reported to the station every week.
“This is a peaceful march just to raise awareness of GBV and femicide,” he said. “In most instances these occur when one or both parties are under the influence. And we want to emphasise there are ways to resolve problems without attacking each other.” Guza identified Ilitha Park as one of the hotspots in the Lingelethu-West Police Precinct.
The Women’s Network‘s Shumikazi Ngxita pointed out that GBV affected both genders. She urged the men to feel free to go to the police station and report GBV they experience themselves and/or witness occurring.
The network is a platform where women can share their observations and concerns, and find ways of problem solving and promoting unity and cooperation.
“We are saying enough is enough!” Ngxita said. “Let’s stand together and fight against GBV. Your neighbour’s child is your child. In most instances these are committed against people by those closest to them.”
