Municipality launches 365 day campaign
CONCERNED after crime statistics revealed ethekwini metro had the highest number of gender violence hot spots, the municipality launched a 365- day campaign to fight gender- based violence, to mark the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Violence campaign.
The 365- day initiative was launched by a delegation from the municipality, which included mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, in Kwamashu M section.
The keynote speaker was Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu.
The delegation visited the homes of two victims of gender- based violence in the area. One was that of the family of 4- year- old Sanelisiwe Mhlongo, who was raped and killed in September.
Addressing the community, Mshengu said more programmes should be held to raise awareness of and curtail incidents of gender- based violence. “It is said that this is a campaign, and that means that this will
not be just for 16 days, but it will be an everyday occurrence as we seek to fight violence against women and children,” Mshengu said.
“We can meet today and speak about gender- based violence but what happens today will be forgotten by tomorrow. So we need to be reminded every day to stand against violence
against women and children because we need to ask, what have we done since these terrible acts happened as a community?
“We need to take the lead here in ethekwini. Every month, even beyond these 16 days, we need to run a programme to stop violence against women and children because it is an
endless struggle.”
Kaunda said: “We as the ethekwini Municipality believe that if we have stable homes we can beat this ( GBV).
“The problem begins at home and we need communities to work with us and not turn a blind eye if there are incidents, even if it is in someone else’s household.”