By: Motshabi Hoaeane
Ekurhuleni’s top five gender-based violence hotspots,came into the spotlight during the launch of a gender based violence and femicide (GBVF) walk to take place on 5 November 2025 in Thembisa. The launch, which was hosted along with the municipality, civic organisations, NPOs and various associations in the Ekurhuleni region, was held at the Civic Centre in Vosloorus on 8 October 2024. The launch was a precursor for the GBVF awareness walk which is expected to take place from 5 November 2025 in Thembisa -working its impact all the way to Cape Town to encourage increased awareness and tangible solutions to one of the country’s most rampant and problematic crises to date.
The dialogue was hosted in unison by the City of Ekurhuleni Local Drug Action Committee (LDAC) NPO, Rand Water, Vuka Kasie Community Project, Child Welfare South Africa, People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA), South African National Civics Association (SANCO) Skeem GP, SA Entrepreneurship Network, Vosloorus, Boksburg Food and Beverages Association (B.V.F.B.A), Mentorship Link SA, Vosloorus Boskburg Taxi Association (VBTA) key law enforcement such as SAPS and its community safety divisions, as well the Boksburg Correctional Services.
Vuka Kasie Community Development Project Coordinator, Wiseman Langa said that the main aim of the programme with all stakeholders involved was to have leaders take the baton of increasing efforts of awareness in their respective spheres of influence and communities to ensure increased awareness & visibility 365 days of the year with the main intention to remedy causal reason behind this pandemic.
“We are calling on everyone and every member of society that we must unite in the fight against gender based violence.” He urged all partners and stakeholders in the fight against GBVF to help use their skills and know-how to ensure that the fight can be won. “Although it may not directly affect you it can affect those around you,” he said.
According to Thuthuzela Care Centre’s findings, an National Prosecuting Authority centre for victims of sexual assault at the Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus, April was the highest month with reported cases of rape in the Kathorus region with up to eighty five cases of rape. The centre’s representative also noted that 50% of cases occurred during the night and 40% daytime and 10% unknown. The percent unknown was said to be cases where victims couldn’t with certainty tell what had happened to them.
SAPS Brigadier Buthelezi, from Springs revealed that five areas in particular, were problem areas in Ekurhuleni.Thembisa standing at number-one with the highest cases across all thirty-nine police stations in the region, followed by Vosloorus, Katlehong, Daveyton, and Eden Park at number five. Brigadier Buthelezi also mentioned that the excessive use of alcohol and disrespect in relationships was a big contributing factor in many of the reported cases and reported cases of GVBF. He also revealed that most of the cases never reached finalisation if arrests were not made speedily because complainants often withdrew their cases, as a result of the accused negotiating with complainants.
Vuka Kasie Project Coordinator, Meme Isaac, explained that the aim of the walk was to proactively target change by speaking out everyday of the year and sensitise in the areas highlighted as hotspots. “We want people to know that GBVF is there, and they must just stop.”
“Everyday we will be talking to people even after the walk, we will still continue.” she added.
“We are an NPO doing this out of a good heart care and concern”, she said, calling for sponsors to also come forward and assist this mission.
During the dialogue, contributions made by various participants highlighted the interconnectedness of the prevalence of excessive alcohol use, toxic relationships and family situations, as well as the prevalence of poverty as the major reasons fueling the cases. Dialogue amongst participants brought up solutions to remedy causes and different professionals shared their experiences on the sensitivity of the issues directly related to GBVF in ongoing daily efforts to prevent offences in their respective spheres of work and influence
