South Africa: The Free State province embarked on a week long series of Anti-GBVF marches across the province. The event was hosted under the theme 30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence Against Women and Children.
Acting Premier Jabu Mbalula by launched the campaign in Bloemfontein during the official launch of 16 Days of Activism. Following the lead set by the Acting Premier of Free State, the members of the community organized several marches in various towns in different districts.
The last peaceful march which was organized against GBVF concluded in the Tseki are in QwaQwa. The march was attended by a large number of community members, trade unions and civil society.
The stakeholders had all come together with the Km of supporting the call to end Gender Based Violence and Femicide.
Participants were lauded for taking out time to pledge their support for a GBVF free society in the chilly weather. The attendants flocked the streets of Tseki with banners and placards, raising awareness about the urgent need to address GBVF.
The message of the marchers was extremely clear as they called on the men of the community to take an active role in preventing gender based violence. Anti-GBVF activist, SAPS and traffic officials, law enforcement organizations and more partners attendes the march.
The marchers eventually went to the Tseki shopping complex where they repeated their message for the benefit of the community.
Station commander of Tseki area, MMC for Social Development Pastor Theko has delivered a brief address at the event. He said that he was disappointed to see the free state officials in his community. He reasoned that this signifies that the communities under his charge are Hotspot for Gender-Based violence.
He said that he is disappointed with the realisation and pledged to find the root of this statistics. The MMC Theko outlined the importance of such a march and what it seeks to achieve.
He said “ We are gathered here in this fashion to spread the awareness of Gender Based Violence and Femicide.