Pledge campaign gains momentum

A TEAM of 25 volunteers, eight vehicles, loud hailers and three police escorts filled the streets of Kraaifontein in a motorcade yesterday, as part of the #OneTooManySA campaign.

The initiative was started in May by civic organisation Ilitha Labantu in response to an increase in violence against women and children.

Organisation spokesperson Siyabulela Monakali said: “We did a stop and start at populated spots where we shouted on loud hailers to draw the attention of the community. We engaged the community and heard their concerns and got them to sign a pledge to support us in making a difference.

“The response was overwhelming, especially from mothers, who heard us and came out to cry for help.”

In six months, the #OneTooManySA campaign has gained 11 500 signatures of support.

They have gone across the Cape Flats to areas including Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Nyanga, Langa, Mitchells Plain, Samora Machel, Philippi and Elsies River.

Monakali said their goal was to create dialogue and partnerships to address issues of violence and abuse.

Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement earlier this week about sexual violence being a weapon of war.

HRW spokesperson Birgit Schwarz said in the Central African Republic, women, and girls in particular, paid the price with armed groups across the country using rape and sexual slavery as a tactic of war.

“A new Human Rights Watch report documents over 300 cases of rape and sexual slavery carried out against women and girls between early 2013 and mid-2017.”