By Emily Setona
QWAQWA — The fight against gender-based violence and femicide took to the streets of QwaQwa, with a clear message: seek help before violence turns fatal.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) took its Victim Empowerment and GBVF awareness campaign to Setsing Plaza on 5 October, confronting the community with the reality of a growing national scourge.
“The monster of GBVF is increasing, so we as the Department of Social Development thought it best to remind the community to take care of themselves and each other so that our communities are safe,” said social worker Nomvula Mahlangu.
She urged residents to break the silence and seek help while there is still time, stressing that support is available before situations become life-threatening.
In a powerful show of solidarity, men stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the campaign.
Free State Men’s Sector chairperson Dingaan Khumalo, 46, said men can no longer be silent bystanders.”Enough is enough. Not in our names,” Khumalo declared.
He said the Men’s Sector — an umbrella body for men’s forums across the Free State — is taking a stand against the killing of women.
“No more shall be tolerated, the death of women as men. We stand against this monster that we saw take the lives of our sisters in Gauteng and we as the men’s forums are here today to say let this not happen here in QwaQwa,” he said.
Khumalo urged victims to use free services offered by the Department of Social Development and to reach out to men’s forums for help.
“We urge our community to be aware that help is available for free at the Department of Social Development. You don’t have to pay for their services and also you can reach out to us as men’s forum when help is needed,” he said.
The campaign drove home one message: GBVF is everyone’s fight — and early intervention saves lives.
