By: Sello Theletsane
Tourism Minister and ANC national executive committee (NEC) member Lindiwe Sisulu on Saturday led a march against gender-based violence (GBV) in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria.
The march, organized by Soshanguve ANC Zone was triggered by high levels of crime in the area, especially high incidents of gender-based violence. Residents highlighted an incident a few months ago when a serial rapist targeted primary school kids and raped more than 12 young school girls.
Residents said as a result of high crime levels in the township, delivery vehicles were no longer delivering in the area because criminals hijacked them. There are also allegations that police vehicles are being used to escourt courier vehicles but when a crime-hit community needs them they are not available.
In their memorandum, delivered at Rietgat police station, one of the three police stations in the area, residents said: “We are disturbed by the recent hike in the killings within our communities. We believe that these senseless killings do not belong in a democracy nor any society.”
The marchers called on law-enforcement agencies “to double their work in preventing any planned mass shooting through intelligence work and partnership with communities”.
“We are equally disturbed by cases of gender-based violence perpetrated against women and children. We are disgusted with the rape, beating, and other forms of abuse of women, children, the elderly, and the LGBTQIA+ community.”
“We call on police officers to protect the dignity of victims when they report cases at service points.
We believe that it is our collective responsibility to protect the vulnerable in our society.”
The marchers also called on authorities “to deal with the scourge of illegal immigrants who violate the hospitality of our country. “We demand a focused approach to rooting out illegal immigrants, their arrest and deportation.”
“There must be improved policing of our borders including augmenting the border police and SAPS with the defence force and use of technology such as cameras, motion sensors, drones, and other forms.”
“We condemn the acts of a few within our law enforcement agencies to act in corrupt ways, such as taking bribes and undermining their oath of office. We pledge to work with law enforcement authorities to rid our society of such bad elements within the police service.”
“We are disturbed by the poor enforcement of the law that allows for petty crimes, which create conditions for other serious crimes. We are not happy with the poor implementation of sector policing.”
“We call for emphatic dealing with victims and survivors in our police stations. We call on the station management of our police service to improve and prioritise working with communities.
We are not convinced by ad-hoc approach of visiting and allocating resources once an incident has happened.”
“We demand a comprehensive strategy from the highest level of government that focuses on the prevention of crimes in all areas. The fight against crime won’t be won by public relations exercises, but a clear strategy and proper management and partnership.”
The marchers called for the establishment of street and area committees, which would improve collaboration with the law enforcement authorities in the fight against crime.
After the march, Sisulu delivered the “Winnie Mandela” lecture at the nearby Bodibeng Library. The event was organized by Soshanguve ANC Women’s League.
Shume