The launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children saw three MECs collaborate to spread the message of no violence against women and children in Khayelitsha on Monday.
Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, MEC for Health, Dan Plato, MEC for Community Safety and Albert Fritz, MEC for Social Development engaged with residents during an awareness campaign for in the area.
The trio took part in pamphlet distribution and verbally engaged with the locals, warning again behaviour unbecoming.
Mbombo said abuse is mostly committed by someone known to the victim.
“We are saying it is a duty of all to spread the message about the violence and also to discourage it. Wearing a short skirt is not an invitation for sexual abuse, because we have seen a number of cases whereby a toddler is raped and the frail elders also getting raped. Let us all come together and fight the scourge. Some males also get abused by their partners, physically or verbally,” she said.
Plato said they saw a need of coming to the area as they believe it will help to personally engage with the community to raise awareness.
“It is important to ensure that we inform the community adequately about the campaign. We have to raise the alarm 365 days, because people turn to forget about it. We joined forces to say no to abuse. It is important to be seen making a walkabout in the community and talk to residents about the campaign,” he said.
Plato also said they have been into other areas already preaching about the campaign and there are more other similar events planned for other areas.
Fritz said the time for violence is over now.
“We are saying violence and abuse must stop now,” he said.
Fritz also said there is an amount of R600 million allocated for educational programmes aimed at preventing the violence such as youth development programmes.
Councillor Luvuyo Hebe, of Ward 90, appealed to the MECs to increase the number of police vans in the area and also increase the number of police stations.
“Police visibility must be increased here, because crime is in the rise. It is very important to raise the awareness of the campaign because there are incidents of such nature. The job opportunities also need to be created for residents because poverty also has a role in criminal activities that are happening,” Hebe said.
Hebe also spoke about the tragic loss of his cousin, Nonki Mpolompo, 30, who was fatally shot together with his girl friend whose name he did not know, in Site B, recently.
He said four unknown suspects just from a taxi and went to the deceased car and shot the duo, as they were waiting for the traffic light to turn green, on Mew Way Road.
No arrests have been made.
Lizeka Gobani, 35, a resident applauded the visit of the MECs in her area.
“It is very important to talk about the violence, because there are a lot of residents who are victims. Some people do not get the information about the awareness. I am happy that they (MECs) came to our area,” Gobani said.
