The scourge of gender-based violence and other violent crimes is escalating rapidly in Vhembe, reaching alarming levels.
In response, men from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA), under the Prayer Men's League of the Northern Diocese, held a march in Thohoyandou on Saturday to raise awareness and call for action. The march, led by director Mr Lucas Maboi, aimed to mobilise the community against the violence.
Hundreds of church members and local residents joined the march, which began at the Thohoyandou bus rank, passed through Block F, and concluded at the local police station. There, a memorandum was handed to the station's management.
Thohoyandou remains one of the country's hotspots for gender-based violence and other serious crimes.
Speaking at the event, one of the coordinators, Mr Livhuwani Phophi, said the men were deeply concerned about the rise in attacks, particularly those targeting women and children. He said that although they supported and acknowledged the efforts made by the South African Police Service and their crime-combatting partners in and around the Thulamela Municipality, the situation was not getting any better.
"As men we feel that the 30 years of freedom have opened doors for more crimes, and that not much has been done to bring an end to the prevailing situation. We are hereby as men pledging to play an active role in ending crime. We will, together with other stakeholders, work hard to stop the tide of crime," he said.
Phophi added that the group was committed to addressing harmful practices such as forced marriages of minors, ritual killings and human trafficking.
"We also urge the Thohoyandou SAPS, the Thulamela Municipality and surrounding communities not just to observe the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, but to monitor the situation throughout the year. In so doing, we will be able to arrest the scourge," Phophi said.