Sisonke Educational Project, in partnership with the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) outreach unit, engaged in interactive dialogues in Kliptown in efforts to educate and fight against gender-based violence (GBV).

It is no secret that GBV is a profound and widespread problem in many communities and in South Africa as a whole. The community gathered at the Kliptown Community Hall recently to participate in the discussions surrounding GBV with a deeper focus on emotional abuse.

Sisonke and the JMPD created a safe space for survivors to come together, work through their differences and set aside these variances. The JMPD’s mandate is not only to enforce the laws of the roads. The department’s functions include traffic policing, policing of municipal by-laws and regulations, among others. Another important mandate is to share learning opportunities and engage with communities on a regular basis to educate and provide support.

One of the JMPD officers and a spokesperson at the community engagement, Officer Jennis Davids said: “To be financially independent as a women is important. It is essential for women to be educated and equipped with useful skills to better their chances at employment and ensure a stable income in order to lead a sustainable life.”

Davids also said that women should not be afraid to report cases of abuse to the police as they give full support to these cases.

“The department provides counseling for the survivors of abuse as well as opportunities for skills development programmes. We do not want the public to be afraid of us just because we are in uniforms. We want to create a safe space for everyone and also show them that we are also humans.”

Written by Bongiwe Radebe

18/10/2021