Local News
Brebner marches against violence against women and children─── MOEKETSI MOGOTSI 16:03 Wed, 17 Aug 2016
Bloemfontein - About 320 grade 10 learners from Brebner High School marched against violence against women and children on Wednesday. The learners peacefully marched down Kenneth Kaunda Road towards the Bayswater Police Station in Bayswater.
The students handed over a memorandum listing three things with which they require the assistance of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in curbing women and child abuse.
Brebner High School Deputy Principal, Kobus de Wet, says he is proud to see how the students came together to let their voices be heard with the march.
“We put our voice in writing and we ask the police to assist us in handling issues that directly affect us,” he says.
“We asked the police to assist us with awareness, first of all, and we also asked for more visibility around the school area. We asked them to assist us in the fight against drugs which is also a bit of a problem among the youth nowadays,” he also adds.
Bayswater Station Commander, Florence Mohale, says they regard the march as a positive march because it signifies that the youth have an idea what Women’s Month is about.
Brebner High School Deputy Principal, Kobus de Wet, handed over a memorandum
to Bayswater Police Station Commander, Florence Mohale. Photo: Moeketsi Mogotsi
“Crime against women and children is the national commissioner’s priority, as well as Bayswater SAPS’,” she said.
According to Mohale, about 50 cases of women and children abuse have been reported at their precinct in the time frame between August this year and August last year.
Mohale says one of their challenges is that women in some instances come to report abuse and then return to retract the charges at a later stage.
“We all know that we have to do much more to respond to the cries for justice by women and children who have suffered violence. We have to do much more to end this horrible abuse,” she added.
Zimkhitha Macala, Khauhelo Lephuthing, Aobakwe Maboa and Bonolo Moloi addressed their peers with poems and speeches dedicated to women and children.
“I made a poem about women as well and how precious they are,” said Lephuthing.
The 16-year-old said she was speaking from experience in what she recited.
“I have experienced women abuse in the family.”
“I know how it made me feel and how it makes others feel about abuse in the family. I just want them to take a stand for it, to make the country a better place,” she added.
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