Byline: Kelebogile Masemola
5 September 2022
The Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko, accompanied by officials from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and other law enforcement agencies in the province, embarked on a march to promote the safety of women and children in Soshaguve policing precinct.
The march, was held under the theme “Reclaiming the Night” on Friday evening, 2 September 2022, following several incidents of violence perpetrated against women and children that were reported in the area.
The concerned marchers met at the Giant Stadium in Soshanguve and marched around the area until near the R80 highway.
“Reclaiming the night” is a community driven march, where women of all ages stamp their authority and send a message that women have the right to walk the streets freely at any given time without being abused or killed.
Mazibuko said they were there to make sure that woman know and feel that they are safe to walk at night.
“We are going to all the hotspots where women are vulnerable here in Soshanguve.
We intend to spread that message and where we find people gathered, we share pamphlets with them and messages to say ‘it is wrong to abuse women and for women to feel that they cannot walk at any time of the night here in Soshanguve’ and that they do not have to stay at home because they are afraid but can do as they please because we are living in a free country,” said Mazibuko.
Community member, Keitumetse Moate (40) said she is tired of constantly being afraid something might happen to her or her two (2) daughters, as there are many cases in the community of gender based violence and robbery.
“What we are going through as the women of this country is truly unfair, we live in constant fear of being victimised and taken advantage of.
We are happy to see the government making an effort in ensuring that we feel safe as women and children in our country.
We hope to see a positive change in our community and that our efforts do not go in vein,” said Moate.
