“Silence hides violence,” chanted protesters along Klipfontein Road last Friday evening.
The picket by the Callas Foundation, the Heideveld Female Football Academy and the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation, was held in support of the 16 Days of Activism For No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, from Friday November 25 to Saturday December 10.
The founder of the Callas Foundation, Caroline Peters, said silence helped to fuel a gender-violence pandemic in the country and it was importance to raise awareness of this, especially on the Cape Flats.
“If we don’t raise awareness the attitudes of men and boys won’t change. We need the whole society to come on board and help us change what is happening in our communities. This is a busy intersection, which is why we are standing here for maximum exposure to create awareness. We want to show the community that we are there for the women who need us,” she said.
Heideveld Female Football Academy chairman Yushrie Solomons said many people accepted abuse and looked away.
“Some people in the community have just accepted it and keep quiet about it because they are uneducated about what constitutes gender-based violence. People are also scared to speak out because of generational curses. Why must our girls watch what they wear because a man wants to think dirty thoughts? People need to stop talking and start acting, “ he said.
Athlone police station spokeswoman Sergeant Zita Norman said women should no longer live in fear and they should speak out about abuse.
“We are here to support them; we have launched our gender-based violence desk and we have the victim support room as well,” she said.