Last Thursday (26 May) Worcester hosted a provincial gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) indaba for policemen.
Championed by the Provincial Executive Committee of Men For Change, a forum for men in the police service, it was held in the local town hall.
Police Captain Lindikhaya Mkhontwana, recently elected national deputy chairperson, said: “Gender-based violence and femicide were the main topic in the dialogue.
“It was a discussion by men for men in the South African Police Service to empower them, since this also directly affected them and the communities where they live.”
Various role-players attended and a slew of speakers addressed the gathering.
“Speakers were drawn from experts at the provincial head office, but a reputable local expert – in this case Advocate Cindy Abdol of the Thuthuzela Care Centre – gave a key message with a presentation,” said Mkhontwana.
Abdol explained in her presentation how visible policing factored into the working model of the Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC).
“It was important, especially in light of the presence of police officers from all over the Boland and Overberg,” she told Standard. “I focused on what elements of the model can be implemented by [the men at the meeting], even in towns where there is no TCC and no hospitals, and victims of GBV must be transported to a neighbouring town.”
Abdol also praised the cooperation the TCC received from the local police stations.
“We have enjoyed good cooperation from the station commanders and visible policing of Worcester, Rawsonville, De Doorns and Touws River in the management of GBV victims, despite logistical challenges such as vehicle shortages and the like.”
The theme of the event was Thetha ndoda – Praat manne.
“These dialogues were led by Men For Change in the Western Cape, a structure or forum for men within the South African Police Service,” Mkhontwana confirmed.
She added that plans and ideas stemming from the indaba would be implemented in communities.
“These programmes will then be taken to the communities in partnership with relevant stakeholders and activists,” the police captain pointed out.
