Following the expanding rates of Gender Based Violence incidents in the Province, it was seen fit by the Department of Transport and Community Safety and the Department of Social Development in collaboration with the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe to initiate a Community Mobilisation Programme that will form a network with members of the society to fight against this “second pandemic (Gender Based Violence and Femicide).”
The MEC for Transport and Community Safety, Me Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya and the MEC for the Department of Social Development Me Nkakareng Rakgoale and the Provincial Commissioner, took the forefront during the dialogue against Gender Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) which was conducted at Mentz Sports Ground in Ga-Mamabolo village under the Mankweng policing area, Capricorn District, as Mankweng is amongst the top 30 stations in the country with high GBVF cases following the Provincial launch of the Safer Festive Season Operations in Giyani under the Mopani District on Thursday, 04 November 2021.
The event was also attended by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for Policing Major General Jan Scheepers, the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for the Corporate Services Major General Christine Moralakadi, the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for the Detectives Major General Samuel Manala, the Provincial Heads, the SAPS Capricorn District Commissioner Major General Lesiba Mashilo and the other four Acting District Commissioners, the Station Commanders, senior officers, members and personnel of the South African Police Service, the Sister Government Departments, the Provincial Community Policing Board and the Community Police Forum representatives, the Traditional Authorities
The day started with the courtesy visit to Kgoshi Mamabolo followed by the briefing session at Maranatha Covenant family Church before the main program began at the sports ground.
Various speakers including the Ambassador for Gender Based Violence from the Department of Correctional Services, Pheladi Maholo encouraged members of the community to report any domestic violence and walk away from the perpetrators in order to remain safe and not acting against the law.
The Provincial Commissioner delivered the purpose of the day where she highlighted that the domestic violence nature incidents are mostly occurring behind closed doors. She encouraged community members to work together and protect each other without acting unlawful. She further said, “Create and join the Community crime prevention Committees available in your areas and also have engagements with the police continuously.”
“As the Organisation, we have realised that community members must be brought-in so that we can curb the scourge against the GBVF in our province. We are also pleased with rates of people reporting these incidents. This means that communities are now taking actions even though, we are still seeing more reports of children and women being missing.” She urged parents and guardians to always keep a close eye regarding the whereabouts of their children. “I’m challenging men in our mists to become the activists or ambassadors of this second pandemic,” concluded General Hadebe.
The MEC for Social Development, addressed the community members and she outlined the challenges that they face as a Department on a daily basis in dealing with domestic and gender base incidents. She further said, “Speak up against the domestic violence and take an immediate action when someone tells you about his or her domestic challenges.”You might save life if not lives.” she concluded.
Members of the community were also given a platform to raise their concerns and challenges in terms of the Gender Based Violence situations. Thereafter, Major General Jan Scheepers addressed other issues raised by the community. Meanwhile, Major General Christine Morakaladi clarified the SAPS recruitment processes and she also updated the community members about the satellite police station that is still in the pipeline within the Mankweng Policing area as the work study is still underway by the SAPS Organisational Development Component.
The MEC of Transport and Community Safety, gave the key note address where she called upon community members to support each other and feel free to approach the police whenever they experience gender based violence or witness domestic incidents.
