BREAKING THE CYCLE OF GBV IN THE FAR EAST OF MAMELODI

Several women in the Far East of Mamelodi joined in an an event known as “Breaking The Cycle of Gender-Based Violence” on weekend.

The day’s proceedings started with a gathering at a house known as “Ntlo Ya Lekgowa” in Extension 11 before the gathered crowd marched peaceful to the Lusaka Sports Grounds.

According to the event’s organiser and chaplain Rina Makgoba of the God’s People Community Educare Centre, women are in most cases the ones who suffer in terms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Different stakeholders attended the event.

“In our work as members of God’s People Community Educare Centre NPO, we interact with lots of children in the Far East of Mamelodi and it has come to our attention that many of them are badly affected by GBV in their homes,” explained Makgoba.

She said the event will bring knowledge to residents regarding GBV as well as information regarding where they must go when faced with GBV.

“GBV victims must not give up but must speak out and not allow themselves to be oppressed because there are many places where they can seek help regarding GBV,” she said.

“To the perpetrators of GBV we are saying they must seek help because in some cases GBV happens as a result of emotional stress on the part of the perpetrator and we are saying they must not abuse or kill their children and loved ones but must instead seek help,” said Makgoba.

“We are here as part of our social corporate investment responsibility and we are worried about the growing number of GBV victims and as businesses we must support initiatives such as this awareness campaign regarding GBV which has been organised in Lusaka,” said Tembo Heavy Lift and Transport company representative Malambula Madida.

Melba Maremi who is a member of the local Anti Gender-Based Violence brigad in Ward 10, told Tshwane Talks that in their duties they experience incidents of Gender-Based Violence directed mainly at women and children in their area.

She hoped that the awareness campaign would go some way to alleviate the scourge of GBV in the area.

“During our door-to-door campaigns we usually come across one or two cases of GBV every week and what is disappointing is that in some instances victims who have opened cases against perpetrators end up cancelling those cases for fear that the perpetrator, who is in most cases the husband, will no longer grant the family the financial support and favours that he used to give them,” explained Maremi.

Jane Mathebula of the Moses Mabhida Foundation told Tshwane Talks that her organisation offers counselling for victims of GBV and pointed out that these days there are women who abuse men; that abuse is no longer one-sided but is perpetrated by woman in some cases.

She urged men to report cases of abuse at their nearest police stations and not bottle up their anger until they end up killing their wives and children.

Ward 10 Councillor Isaac Sekele also attended the GBV awareness event as a way of supporting the initiative and acknowledging that there is indeed such a phenomenon like GBV in his ward.

“I have been elected as Councillor a few months ago and eight cases of GBV have already been reported to me and I must admit that every week I receive at least two cases of GBV, but we are working with the police and other stakeholders to fight against GBV,” said Sekele.

He opines that in some cases GBV is caused by unemployment among men and they feel frustrated and insecure because they end up venting their anger on their children and spouses.

Mamelodi East CPF Youth Chairperson Mahlatsi Langa told Tshwane Talks that those suffering from GBV must not keep quiet and that they as the youth wing of the CPF are ready to lend a helping hand in the fight against GBV.

“In most cases we help victims who are afraid to open GBV cases due to various reasons and we as the young CPF we literally walk every step of the way with them until their cases are brought to court and perpetrators face the might of the law,” said Langa