Durban — Close to a 150 women from different churches, organisations and communities in King Cetshwayo District, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, participated in an awareness march calling for an end to gender-based violence (GBV).
The theme for the march was Sekwanele - Let women and children live. The message to the public and offenders was enough is enough.
Organiser Apostle Bongi Thusi said that they highlighted social ills that they have seen and experienced such as the scourge of femicide and GBV in the country. Thusi said that a recent GBV incident in uMhlathuze spurred on the march in Empangeni.
“The march was peaceful and the final destination was the Empangeni Magistrate’s Court where we handed a petition calling for tougher laws against the abuse of women and children and the legal system be reviewed. We have noticed that criminals are arrested and they only stay in jail for a short while only to return to the community again,” Thusi said.
Women's Forum chairperson Zandile Mashazi said it was heartbreaking that there were such high levels of crime in the community, especially in the month of August which was supposed to be the month in which women were celebrated, yet instead they were being buried.
Mashazi said a woman was found dead under her neighbour’s bed earlier this month in an incident that sparked the march. She said that they are demanding that the suspect does to receive bail.
Thusi acknowledged that men also participated in the march and were standing by them in this endeavour.
Thusi is also the national secretary general of Interdenominational African Ministers’ Association of South Africa (IDAMASA). Thusi also received support from civil society movement called #UNMUTE, South African Women in Dialogue (SAWID) and the local political parties.
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