Kraaifontein women unite against abuse

THREE HUNDRED Kraaifontein women celebrated National Women’s Day by forming a human chain, to demonstrate that women can make a difference in preventing the scourge of violence and abuse against women and children.

The human chain gathering lasted for two hours.

Speaking after participating in the chain from the corners of Frans Conradie and Van Riebeeck streets, Kraaifontein police station commander Gerda Van Niekerk said: “We thought, as women, we’re going to stand together, form a chain, celebrate Women’s Day, pray together, sing together, toyi-toyi together and just show that when women stand together we can make a difference in violence against women and children. It was a powerful day.”

Van Niekerk said it had been over- whelming when some men joined the chain to show their solidarity. “It was powerful, because now we can feel how the women of 1956 felt, with 20 000 women standing together, fighting for equal rights.”

Van Niekerk said the chain was an initiative of the Kraaifontein police and its Community Policing Forum (CPF), whose usual annual joint venture is reserved for Youth Day celebrations.

John Smidt, CPF co-ordinator for the area’s neighbourhood watches, said it was the first time that women of Kraaifontein had an event like yesterday’s. “It was held in a very good spirit. The women were from all spheres of life – young, middle-aged and elderly.”

Smidt said traffic and law enforcement officers and representatives of the area’s 21 neighbourhood watches were also present.