Men from all walks of life including various organisations that advocates for human rights gathered at the Ipelegeng centre on Saturday 14 March 2024. This, to establish the petition aimed at reaching million signatures by all men from all fronts against Gender Based Violence and Femicide, furthermore volunteering skills, time and resources to uplift those facing GBV, and aim to obliterate the scourge by registering on the portal, 1milliomnenpetition.gauteng.gov.za
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi was afforded the opportunity to register first on the portal. And in his speech he announced that his Provincial Commissioner of police recently released crime statistics of 1800 murders in Gauteng within a 3 month period. “For the first time we have seen the highest number of women and children recorded in the report list. Therefore, we have to do things out of the ordinary if we are to arrest the situation. This day we’re jointly build a firm foundation so that we can be able to defend our women and children in society.” Added Lesufi.
“As Gauteng remains the economic hub we must be able to provide economic opportunities and protect our citizens. We attach our signatures by our deeds and actions that as you sign you declare ‘count me out’ of those brutal to their women! In need be our voice, be our ambassador, be part of our greenhouse campaigners. Where we give you a green flag to place at your residence, so that any woman feeling threatened can spot it as a safe house to seek help.” He also clamped on obscene visuals that get exposed to children on TV and on social media platforms. “It demeans women and perceptions surrounding the so-called sex sells hype. Our young people are a contested terrain and we cannot leave them to be victims of opportunistic moral manipulators. They must be protected.”
He appealed to the clergy to go back to schools and preach the Word of God and furthermore highlighted to the present Social Development MEC Mbali Hlope that any youth that needs rehabilitation of Nyaope and other substances must be given the necessary assistance.” We cannot have an entire generation being wiped off by the nyaope drug.” He reiterated. There must be development activities for our youth to keep them occupied especially during school holidays. In the form of positive book reading sessions, community movie screenings, poetry, football netball tournaments, etc. Otherwise someone else is going to keep them busy in wrong ways.
The Premier dropped a bombshell by mentioning that, “as today’s skills are too diferent, we are pressing a reset button. We are looking to upskill 500 000 people whether they went to school or not, young or old, unemployed, will be trained afresh, free of charge and earn a monthly stipend! All Tivet colleges have been booked for any skills trade.” He stated. “People can’t be relying on elderly people’s pension at home. He’s also promised to install more cameras all over Gauteng to intensively monitor criminal activities. There will also be E-panic buttons installed on any smart phones connected to all security clusters so that when pressed there will be a swift response to a complainant’s rescue. Those who need protection will be protected.” He concluded by applauding structures in society that enable government to come to ekasi to face the people. “To stand together as leaders in various fronts on this difficult journey by God’s grace, standing together no one can stand in our way.”
Jerry Sokhupe
Soweto Sunrise News
