Women in law enforcement marched through Diep River on Wednesday 12 August to raise awareness about gender-based violence (GBV).

The campaign drew 57 law enforcement and community safety representatives along Main Road and formed part of the Women’s Month activities marking Women’s Day.

Leading the initiative

The Diep River Police Station commander, Lt Col Ansley Jacobs, who led the initiative, said the campaign used women in law enforcement to engage the community about GBV and brought together 45 police members, 10 metro police officers and two Community Police Forum (CPF) members.

“Because it is Women’s Month, we decided to do the campaign and also commemorate Women’s Day,” Jacobs said.

Awareness over enforcement

The women-led campaign focused on awareness rather than enforcement. Officers set up a roadblock on Main Road, where they engaged motorists and members of the public about GBV. Officers encouraged communities to speak out against abuse and report incidents to police.

Jacobs said the roadblock was intended to raise awareness about GBV rather than address specific incidents, and no GBV cases or concerns were reported during the campaign.

Encouraging victims to come forward

Jacobs urged victims and anyone with information about abuse to approach the police.

“The best way is to come forward,” he said, adding that officers can follow up on information provided to them and make further contact with those who come forward.

Strengthening community ties

The initiative also gave officers an opportunity to engage directly with residents and motorists. This reinforced the importance of speaking out against abuse and seeking assistance when necessary.

The campaign highlighted the need for continued collaboration between law enforcement and communities to address GBV, while encouraging residents to report incidents and seek assistance from police.

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