Citizens in South Africa have been urged to carry on the campaign to fight abuse against women, children and people living with disability throughout the year.
Senior Government leaders and community members spoke in one voice at the closing ceremony of the 16 days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign held in Rustenburg on Monday that the fight must continue every day of the year.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Deputy President of South Africa, Kgalema Motlanthe, urged communities not to see the 10th of December as the end of the campaign but as the start of fighting throughout the year.
“I want to challenge all of us here today to continue everyday with the fight against women and children, every minute we must not shy away if we see this happening in our communities,” he said.
At the event, the Deputy President welcomed the newly established National Council Against Gender- Based Violence which he said will assist in fighting the abuse of women children and people living with disabilities.
North West Premier, Thandi Modise agreed with the Deputy President that the fight against the abuse of women children and people living with disabilities must be continued every day.
She warned those who are abusers to stop with their actions or else the law will deal with them accordingly.
“The people that you are abusing are the most important members of our communities. We will not stop to talk or act against any form of abuse that we see in our society,” she said.
Also at the occasion, advocate Pheagane Moreroa, a member of the National Council Against Gender- Based Violence promised that the council will assist the nation in the fight against any form of the abuse against women and children.
“The council is specifically going to look those issues relating to the violation of women and children’s rights and come up with relevant activities throughout the year.
We will also be able to implement those programmes supporting women and children who are being tortured and whose rights are being violated on a daily basis because this council has been set up to ensure that the rights of women and children are protected in South Africa,” he said.
Also in attendance at the event, were hundreds of women, children and people living with disabilities.
Segopotso Moepeng, 28, an unemployed woman graduate from Phokeng village who was amongst the women attendants of the occasion expressed her appreciation at all the efforts being done by government in ensuring that women and children are protected against any form of abuse.
“I personally see that government is doing its best especially with the 16 days campaign to protect the women in this country. I still think that more still need to be done because there are more and more women who are still being beaten by their partners and still remain silent about it,” she said.
The 16 days of Activism campaign is an annual event held between 25 November until 10 December. It focuses on generating increased awareness about the negative impact of violence on women, children and people living with disabilities.
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Lesiba Moses Kgwele
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