According to the local department, the “campaign to raise awareness about the pandemic of violence against women and girls is commemorated as Orange Day and is celebrated globally on the 25th of every month, to raise public awareness”. The United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence Against Women Campaign, has declared the 25th of every month as “Orange Day”.

Bloemfontein Courant reports the campaign is a targeted approach to scale up and fast-track efforts to empower young girls and women as well as to “raise awareness and educate young women and men about gender-based violence, involve the young women and men in providing solutions for the scourge and motivate the young women and men to be positive community members.”

In a press statement released by the department, the Bloemspruit area in Mangaung was declared as number 17 out of 30 gender-based violence hotspots in the country in September 2020. The list was compiled based on nine key variables, including the number of cases reported to SAPS during the 2019/20 financial year.

The launch was on 25 October 2022 at Lemo Mall in Bloemfontein, close to the Bloemspruit Police Station.

Bloemfontein Courant/Gypseenia Lion