Welties residents hold a peaceful protest against the recent spike in violent crimes
WELTEVREDEN PARK – Concerned residents of Welties say enough is enough when it comes to violence against women and children.
They say it takes a community to raise a child but, it also takes a community to protect a child, which was evident at the peaceful protest held by residents on Hendrik Potgieter Road in Weltevreden Park.
Troubled citizens met at the intersection of Albert Street and Hendrik Potgieter Road on 27 May, to unite against the increase in violence so prevalent in our country. This coincides with Child Protection Week where communities unite to keep our country’s children safe.
Placards held by the protesters displayed words of disgust and anger at the violence perpetrated against women and children, as well as farm murders.
Coorganiser, Helen McDonald said, “As a community, we felt that it was time for us to show the country that we have had enough. Just in Gauteng alone numerous acts of violence and untold murders have come to the forefront of women and young children.”
One of the boards read, ‘One in three women suffer from violence’. Another displayed a chilling statistic, ‘A woman is raped every 17 seconds in SA.
Men, women and children gathered on the pavement to pledge their support of victims of abuse and rape.
Gayle Dismore, an organiser and protester added, “I heard a very sad story the other day where a woman offered a man [oral sex] in exchange for a lift because she felt safer doing that than walking the four blocks to her home.” She explained that this was only one example clearly highlighting the need for a drastic change in the country’s society and culture.
A strong message was sent out urging the police to be more helpful and listen to victims. Sylvia Montsho talked about women speaking out.
“It’s not enough for women to speak out. For the message to be strong and consistent, women’s voices must be backed up by men’s.”
McDonald and the other protesters hoped that this display would help create the much-needed change in the community and country at large.
“Together we can do great things. It is only by uniting as a community that we can show that this will no longer be tolerated,” added McDonald.
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