A group of Khayelitsha residents took to the streets of Town Two to march against violence on women and children last Saturday.
The march was spearheaded by the Lingelethu police station, Lingelethu Community Police Forum (CPF) and various other stakeholders.
The marchers demanded justice for victims and called on government to tighten up measures to protect women and children from this scourge.
Lingelethu police station commander, Colonel Fana Dlamini, said police officers would not tolerate gender-based violence and that residents should report such crimes to police. Colonel Dlamini said residents should not fear coming forward when they felt the police were not doing their work. He said men should start becoming role models in their communities and play a meaningful role in the upliftment of their society.
Women and children, he said, should be loved and appreciated – not to abused.
“The residents must keep us accountable.
“Residents must report police officers who are not doing their jobs. We want to make it clear that gender-based violence will not be tolerated in our communities.
“We want to make it clear that we will fight this scourge head on,” he said.
Resident Nokuthula Yilo said it was critical that they take a firm stand against gender-based violence and called on the community not to harbour perpetrators.
CPF chairperson, Lunga Guza, said they wanted to raise awareness about woman and child abuse and echoed the call for the community to play its role in ensuring that gender-based violence was stopped.