Scores of Garankuwa residents in Pretoria embarked on a red walk to break the silence against Gender-based Violence on Sunday. The founder of this movement, Modiegi Matlaisane, says that this movement comes after the scourge of GBV in Garankuwa and all the surrounding townships in Pretoria.
“The aim is to break the silence in our community. Too many people are willingly not saying anything about the violence in our town. We have rapes, kidnappings, murders etc. happen and we do not show our support,” says Matlaisane.
Matlaisane is also the owner of Mo’Essentials natural oils, this is a female black owned local business. In an exclusive interview Matlaisane told Gauteng news that that the red-walk movement is the way for them to bring up the conversation about GBV.
“This a way of showing that we don’t tolerate this behavior and setting an example of the type of society we want by educating each other and teaching our youth and kids the right way to live with one another,”
“More positive and creative activities in a community generates support, networking awareness of young talents and gives us a community a way to release our stresses in a good way,” she said.
Matlaisane added and said that there are many roots cause of GBV like unemployment.
“There isn’t one main cause. There are root causes that spark GBV. Gender inequalities, low family and community morale, lack of resources like jobs, food security, health care, education and social security,” she added.
She concluded and said that they are also in need of sponsors since GBV is another pandemic that they are currently facing.
“We need sponsors and support I am a young black female that needs the right structures to develop. We pride ourselves on living an unholy lifestyle instead of loving our neighbors. We are also looking for strong men and women to volunteer to be the frontline,” she concludes.
