Women from Nellmapius, Mamelodi and surrounding areas gathered for a day of prayer at the local Nellmapius Community Hall on Thursday.
The aim of the meeting was to pray for an end to gender-based violence (GBV) and serial killings.
Ward 86 Councillor Kholofelo Kgopotso told Tshwane Talks that enough is enough about the rampant serial killings and incidents of gender-based violence in and around Nellmapius and Mamelodi.
“But we are also praying to God to change the behaviour of these serial killers and make them righteous, obedient people who walk in the path of the Lord,” she said.
“We believe this is possible as no one is born a serial killer,” said Kgopotso.
She thanked all the women who attended and organised the prayer meeting as the prayer meeting initiative was not only about women Councillors but about all women in the aforesaid communities.
Councillor Kgopotso advised all ladies to first get to know the character of a guy before they can go out on a date with them.
“Often ladies meet men on social media and immediately think they are their potential boyfriends and go out on a date with them, but in some cases this ends in tragedy,” lamented Kgopotso.
Pastor Agnes Semono of Restoration Centre Ministries said this is the the time to call upon God to intervene in the terrible situation that various communities are going through at the moment.
“The issue of unemployment is rife in all communities and this scenario leads to women agreeing to date guys that they think will get them out of the poverty they are living in and offer them lavish lifestyles,” said Pastor Semono.
“But I would like to advise ladies to desist from this habit and instead focus on searching for opportunities or start their own businesses,” she said.
Lieutenant Colonel Matshidiso Moshwana from the Silverton Police Station advised ladies to first verify the credentials of the person they intend to date because social media outlets like Facebook are full of stalkers and scammers who promise ladies job opportunities but end up raping and killing them in some instances.
Member of the Gauteng ANC Women’s League PEC Gogo Ndlovana told Tshwane Talks that the prayer meeting was organised to ask for God’s help in stamping out killings and acts of gender-based violence that are prevalent countrywide as well as in Mamelodi and Nellmapius, which increase on a daily basis.
“God, if we as parents have done something wrong that has led to our children being subjected to horrible deaths and GBV, then have mercy upon us as the people of Mamelodi and Nellmapius in particular,” pleaded Ndlovana.
Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (MATA) Secretary General Mashudu Ratau said her organisation has honoured the invitation to take part in the prayer meeting because as stakeholders they are perturbed by the violence and crimes happening against women in Mamelodi and Nellmapius and that the meeting was appropriate as this is Women’s month.
Founder of Vhathu Vhothe Centre for the Abused in Nellmapius Sbongile Nkosi said as women they have decided to come and pray for the healing of families of those who lost their lives at the hands of serial killers.
“We are also praying that those who kill our children with drugs must be exposed and face the consequences of their dastardly activities,” she said.
The prayer meeting was attended by women from all walks of life including churches, political parties, NGOs and NPOs.
Candles were lit as the women held hands together and prayed sorrowfully for an end to serial killings, GBV and also for the police to work harder and arrest the perpetrators of the aforesaid acts of violence.